Victim seriously hurt, Carillo accused of hitting boy,16

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City south district Councilor Gerardo “Gerry” Carillo is accused of hitting a minor’s head with a rock outside a restobar in Barangay Kamagayan Sunday dawn.

The victim, a 16-year-old boy and 3rd year high school student, was seriously hurt and underwent surgical operation in the head at a hospital.

The incident reportedly took place near Kuerks Restobar in Pelaez St., Barangay Kamagayan at past 3 a.m. Sunday.

Based on the report at the Pari-an Police Station which holds jurisdiction of the area, the boy and his companions figured in a rumble with another group of men.

Youngsters Zyle Jordan Saturinas, 23, Eman Cliff Fuente, and Earl Edward Cutanda, 18, all residents of Barangay Pajac, Lapu-Lapu City, reported to the Pari-an Police that they just got out of the restobar and was standing outside with some female friends when the other group that included Carillo’s victim allegedly started hitting them.

They claimed that the group used a motorcycle helmet in hitting them which is why they had injuries in their heads and bodies that needed treatment.

During the rumble, Carillo reportedly arrived and smashed one of the boys’ head with a rock.

The city councilor was identified by witnesses Jorge Mainit, 20, Archie Flores, 20, and a 17-year-old boy who were all with the victim during the rumble.

Apart from the witnesses, Richard Cabigon, 29, and some other John Does allegedly engaged in the rumble.

“Siya g’yud. Gipunit niya ang bato nya iyang gibato sa ulo,” Mainit and Flores said.

The victim is son of a policeman of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office and a younger brother of another policeman who is assigned in Pari-an Police Station. His mother is a former councilor of Barangay Ermita where they live.

The victim is now at the Intensive Care Unit of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and has just gone surgical operation in the head.

“Gitangtang ang part sa iyang bagol-bagol para makuha ‘tong mga bato nga nasod daw sa iyang ulo. Ninghubag sad daw iyang utok,” according to the victim’s brother, who first responded to the rumble and then to the incident involving Carillo without knowing yet that the victim was his brother.

He went to the hospital to check on the victim and saw his brother’s friends and neighbors there, apparently distressed. He then learned that the one being treated at the hospital was his brother.

He went back to the police station and met Carillo, who allegedly pointed at Saturinas as the one who smashed his brother’s head with the rock. Saturinas was arrested but later released.

“Pero ingon ning iyang mga amigo na kana si konsehal ang gabunal sa imong manghod,” the policeman told The Freeman.

The policeman said they have yet to discuss with his family whether to pursue charges against the city councilor.

Senior Insp. Leoncio Baliguat, officer-in-charge of Pari-an Police Station, said witnesses pointed at Carillo.

“But according to attorney (Carillo), he was at the vicinity and ni-pacify siya sa grupo,” said Baliguat.

Carillo was with a barangay captain and some barangay tanods, he said.

The police station chief said they turned over the case to the Homicide Section for neutrality considering that the victim’s brother is assigned there.

SPO1 Rey Cuyos, team leader of the Homicide Section of CCPO, said they are now preparing the sworn statements of the witnesses for the possible filing of charges against Carillo.

The city councilor proceeded to the Homicide Section office yesterday morning after he was invited by the police for some questions.

Cuyos said the government official denied the accusation.

Carillo also declined to be interviewed but said that the accusation spurred from miscommunication.

Carillo’s legal counsel, lawyer Noel Archival, said his client was not the one who threw the stone at the victim, as he called on the public not to hastily speculate against the city councilor.

“You’ve sworn to protect the public unya ikaw na hinuon ang manaog-daog? Huwaton nato in the coming days na ang biktima mismo ang mu-identify gyud. Basta rest assured councilor Carillo won’t abdicate his duties and responsibilities to the victim,” said Archival.

Archival also dismissed the reports that Carillo owns Kuerks Restobar, and said that the bar was a favorite hang-out area of the city councilor together with friends in the government service. He also denied allegations that the city councilor was drunk when the incident happened.

Mayor Michael Rama yesterday instructed Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC) to conduct its own investigation on the matter.

“Gusto ko maklaro gyud unsay nahitabo kay daghan version of the story,” Rama told reporters.

He also wanted Department of Social Welfare and Development Services office to clarify reports that the mauling incident happened in a bar.

“If that is true, how come a minor was at the bar?” he added.

Carillo and Rama used to be allies under Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) but the reelected mayor left the party and created his own Team Rama.— with  Jessa J. Agua/JPM (FREEMAN)