Malonzo files charges vs rival’s bodyguard

Some two weeks after a near shootout in a city councilor’s birthday in Caloocan City, Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo, on Friday, filed administrative charges against the police bodyguard of Caloocan Rep. Enrico Echiverri before the local People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB).

This developed as PO1 Hermocillo Quilingen, Echiverri’s police aide, also executed his sworn counter affidavit denying the allegations and pointed to Malonzo as having started the fracas.

Malonzo, before the PLEB, filed charges of "grave misconduct, gross discourtesy and conduct grossly prejudicial to the best interest of the service." Malonzo presented sworn statements of his witnesses, Valeriano Mahinayt and Geronimo Monfil.

The mayor earlier threatened to file criminal charges of attempted homicide and illegal possession of a firearm against Quilingen. He said Quilingen allegedly tried to kill him in that party.

A notarized "verification with certification against forum shopping," obtained by The STAR, was signed by Malonzo saying he has not initiated any case involving the same issue before any other court, tribunal or quasi-judicial agency.

Another hearing has been set for July 30.

Last July 12, at around 10 p.m. during the birthday party of City Councilor Gualberto Bacolod, held at the Bagong Silang High School located at Phase 3, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, a near shootout erupted between the armed security escorts of Malonzo and Quilingen, Echiverri’s lone bodyguard. – Jerry Botial