Ombudsman clears Ramirez, 10 others of criminal raps

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has dismissed the criminal complaint for serious physical injuries against Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez and 10 others for lack of probable cause.

The anti-graft office found no sufficient evidence against Ramirez, Medellin police chief Manuel Suan Singson, Jr., SPO4  Proniely Artezuela, and SPO1 Manuel Allan Tan; Nestor Villegas, Romulo Sardido, Romeo Tamayo, Romeo Noynay, Troy Otto, and Jaime Singuran, all members of the Bantay Dagat, and municipal employee Allan Setenta.

The Gibitngil Farmers and Fisherfolks Association (GIFFA) represented by lawyer Alfonso Sinco, IV earlier accused the mayor and the other respondents of serious physical injuries. GIFFA claimed that its members were harassed by Ramirez. In fact, they were allegedly being threatened with firearms.

Ramirez allegedly got irked because of GIFFA’s opposition to the construction of a footbridge that would connect the Funtastic Medellin Island to the shoreline. The mayor started deploying policemen in the area on June 1, 2011.

The complainant claimed that a series of harassment was allegedly perpetrated by Ramirez and the other respondents against its members.

In fact, the fishing boat of the former chairman of GIFFA, Richard Cuyos, was reportedly bumped intentionally by the patrol boat.

“Not contended with what they did, respondent Villegas went offshore and fired shots in front of the crowd,” the complaint read.

It was also alleged by the complainant that Ramirez ordered to shoot all the people around the construction site on June 13, 2011. The respondents denied the accusations.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer Vivien Leigh Santiago-Lumangtad also found the accusations wanting of evidence.

According to Lumangtad, it was unbelievable for a municipal mayor, in the presence of several policemen, to order to shoot all the people within the construction site. Lumangtad added that the anti-graft body also has no jurisdiction over the bantay dagat members because they were all job order employees.— (FREEMAN)