Manila village chief faces new abuse rap

MANILA, Philippines — A barangay chairman who was charged for allegedly beating up a 16-year-old boy in his office in Sta. Cruz, Manila is facing another charge.

A couple is accusing Barangay 350, Zone 35 chairman Felipe Falcon Jr. and several barangay councilors of beating them up in the barangay hall at around 7 p.m. on Oct. 9.

Marlon Quimado, 39, and his wife Fe, 50, working as market researchers for different companies, said they were dragged to the barangay hall after a condominium tenant complained they were trying to steal from her.

Quimado said the security guard on duty directed them to the wrong unit when  they asked for the person they were supposed to interview. The couple told The STAR that Falcon, who reeked of liquor, brandished his gun and told them to run. They begged for their lives.

After the Quimados were brought to the hospital for medical examination, Falcon ordered barangay personnel  to turn off the barangay’s closed-circuit television cameras.

The couple said they were beaten then brought to the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 3, but police officers refused to detain them “because the case is a simple barangay matter.”

Quimado and his wife attended three hearings at the barangay, the last one yesterday, before they decided to file a complaint against Falcon.

Police Officer 2 Teody Suguen said he invited Falcon to a confrontation with the complainants but the latter did not appear.

Suguen said the charges will be filed directly with the court.