In Tuburan: 2 losing candidates, 6 "goons" face raps

CEBU, Philippines - Two losing candidates in Tuburan are facing criminal complaints before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor's Office for allegedly hiring the services of armed "goons" in the last elections.

The police have filed the complaint against mayoral candidate Rose Marie Suezo and her runningmate Daphnie Arias Lagon for violation of section 33 of the Republic Act 7166 in relation to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 9561-A as amended by Comelec Resolution No. 9608.

Aside from Suezo and Lagon, the police also filed the complaint against the six suspected goons--Hepty Relator,50; Michael de Castillo, 43; Edgar Jareleza, 40; Roel Casas, 37; Federico Acelar, 53; and Gilbert Lorca, 43, all from Iloilo City.

The six armed men were allegedly hired by the two candidates to ensure their victory. However, they were arrested by the police on May 12, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. during a checkpoint.

Members of the Tuburan Police Station led by Police Senior Inspector Florendo Fajardo together with the augmentation force from the Regional Public Safety Battalion-7, and Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) were on a routine checkpoint to ensure peaceful and honest elections when they spotted a white Ford F-150 vehicle in Barangay Daan Lungsod.

The vehicle did not have proper registration papers while the driver had an expired license. This prompted the police to search the vehicle and found several high powered firearms under the matting.

Among the firearms confiscated from the suspects are two KG9 sub machine guns with four magazines, two caliber .45 pistols with three magazines and 36 live ammunitions, one 9mm tanfolio pistol with two magazines and 83 live ammunitions, two hand grenades, one rifle grenade, three live ammunitions for M-16, one medium heat sealed transparent plastic believed to contain shabu, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, ball caps, bonnets, four t-shirt printed with pictures of Suezo-Lagon and others.

Based on the document, the vehicle used by the suspects is owned by Ma Kara Copingco and Sonny Lagon.

Suezo, in a text message sent to The Freeman, refused to comment on the complaint.

"Wait una ko complaint. Refer una lawyer. Hope you understand me" Suezo's text reads. -- Mylen P. Manto and Gregg M. Rubio/FPL (FREEMAN)