MANILA, Philippines - Twelve alleged supporters of a mayoral bet in Manila were arrested by the police after they reportedly beat up two supporters of another candidate in Paco, Manila early yesterday morning.
Manila Police District’s General Assignment Section (MPD-GAS) head Chief Inspector Marcelo Reyes said the 12 were also accused by Roldan de Guzman, 37, and Mark Gil Pesimo, 24, of breaking the windshield and fender of their vehicle, a white FX Tamaraw van (TVW-941).
In their joint sworn affidavits, De Guzman and Pesimo said they were pasting political posters of Liberal Party mayoral tandem Alfredo Lim and Isko Moreno along Osmeña Highway in Paco, Manila at around 2:30 a.m. when five multicabs bearing the name of “Lito Atienza” arrived with at least 30 men on board.
Atienza and former Philippine National Police chief Avelino Razon are challenging Lim for the highest post in the city.
The complainants said the men drove them away and told them not to paste any Lim-Moreno posters since the area is their territory. The complainants said they were about to board their vehicles when the men attacked them with stones.
The men also broke the windshield and fender of their vehicle, according to the two complainants. They said they called up Moreno over the cellular phone, and he instructed them to seek treatment at the Ospital ng Maynila and file a complaint with the police.
Meanwhile, the 12 men told The STAR that they were the ones attacked by the complainants’ group. They said they reported the incident at the Pandacan police station but were told to directly file their complaints with the MPD-GAS.
However, they said they were arrested when they arrived at the police headquarters.
Charges of physical injury, malicious mischief and damage to property were filed against the 12 men.
Atienza said yesterday he will ask the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to declare the city an election “hot spot” following the incident.
Secretary to the mayor Rafaelito Garayblas said they previously received information about plans to declare Manila an election hot spot to trigger a reshuffle of key officers. The replacements would be used to advance the political interests of Lim’s rival, he said.