Council man asked to yield

CEBU, Philippines — Police are urging Barangay Babag, Cebu City councilor Renante Bacarisas to voluntarily surrender after he was accused of shooting his cousin on Sunday afternoon.

Senior Superintendent Joel Doria, director of Cebu City Police Office, yesterday said though that they will continue pursuing Bacarisas even as police are requesting him to yield.

Based on the initial investigation by the Mabolo police and CCPO Homicide Section, George Ibona, 37, and his wife were onboard a multicab when Bacarisas allegedly, onboard a motorcycle, allegedly approached them near the barangay hall on Sunday and said: “Unsa man, tiwason nalang nato ni, bay?”

Bacarisas then parked his motorcycle on the roadside and approached Ibona again and shot him twice, hitting his neck and shoulder.

Senior Inspector Dindo Juanito Alaras said Ibona is now in stable condition. His wife is determined to file a case against Bacarisas.

“As of the location of the suspect, continue gihapon ang atong pagpangita karon. Nipasalig man sad ang kapitan sa Babag nga motabang siya sa pagpangita sa konsehal,” said Alaras.

He said they are looking at personal grudge as motive for the incident. Allegedly, the victim and the suspect were mired in a heated argument previously.

Yesterday, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña vowed to provide legal assistance to Ibona but he revealed that the barangay captain of Babag, Cesar Dolorito, is coddling the suspect.

“I suspect that politics is involved. I suspect that the barangay captain is sheltering him,” Osmeña said.

When asked to explain his statement, the mayor just said, “I don’t know, playing favorites, favorites.”

Osmeña said Dolorito was allied with his Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan party before but he had since “disowned” him because he “never really liked” him.

Dolorito denied the allegations of the mayor, saying he is even helping authorities search for Bacarisas.

“Dili na tinuod kay karon sige pa man gani og manhunt. Akong paningkamutan si konsehal nga mo-surrender,” he said. —/JMD (FREEMAN)