DOJ OKs murder, gun ban raps vs Cagayan mayor

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the filing of attempted murder charges against a Cagayan town mayor in connection with the shooting of a political rival and his supporters in May.

In a resolution dated Oct. 2, the local DOJ office ordered that a case for violation of the gun ban imposed by Commission on Elections should be filed against Santa Ana town Mayor Darwin Tobias.

One of the mayor’s aides, Benjamin Garperio Jr., was indicted in the two charges approved for filing before the regional trial court in Aparri by provincial prosecutor Amador Arao.

The DOJ gave credence on countercharges filed by one of Tobias’ politcal rivals, then board member Alphonse Jean Ponce, accusing the mayor and four of his aides as the ones who fired at them in Barangay Santa Cruz on May 13. 

Aside from the multiple attempted murder charges, Ponce’s camp filed complaints of obstruction of justice and  gun ban violation against Tobias and four of his aides including Garperio, Ariel Natividad, Rodolfo Villarama and Denis Quinto.

The DOJ, however, excluded Natividad, Villarama and Quinto in its recommendation for lack of probable cause.

It dismissed the obstruction of justice complaints filed against the three as well as the mayor and Garperio.

Tobias said he has yet to receive a copy of the resolution indicting him. He said they would file a motion for reconsideration once they receive it.

He said he was not with his aides at the time of the alleged shooting incident as he noted that one of his men was only forced to fire back when Ponce’s group allegedly tried to waylay them.