Martinez brothers sued for coercion, detention

CEBU, Philippines — Bogo City Mayor Carlo Martinez and his brother, ex-officio Provincial Board Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III, are facing charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly detaining and mauling volunteers of Senator-elect Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and local allies in the last May 13 elections.

At least nine residents of Bogo City, including two minors, had filed last June 7 their joint criminal and administrative complaints for threats, physical injury, slander by deed and grave coercion, and arbitrary detention against the Martinez brothers.

Other named respondents include Bogo City Councilor Brainard “Digoy” Mayol, Barangay Cayang Councilman Alexander Estrella, a certain Jonathan “Caloy” Casinillo and an unidentified person.

The FREEMAN tried but failed to get the comments of the respondents.

Complainants are Radem Catapan Codera, Chan Dave Villamor Piape, Junel Fontanoza Catamco, Glien Lepasana Paberan, Reymar Rivero Velez, Ma. Beverly Delos Santos Villanueva, Anthony Rivero Velez, and two minors.

Aside from being volunteers of dela Rosa, complainants also served as volunteers and watchers of Congressswoman-elect Janice Salimbangon and defeated mayoralty candidate Arturo Pacifico.

The complainants alleged that last election, the respondents inflicted them physical injury and that they were forcibly detained for more or less three hours inside the barangay hall of Cayang, Bogo City.

The respondents reportedly also forcibly took their cellular phones without any valid reason and even shamed them, and ridiculed in public by slapping them in front of many people.

But before the incident was entered into the police blotter, Mayor Martinez’s lawyer reportedly had already reported to the police and had it entered in the blotter about the presence in the barangay, making them appear as bad guys.

When the complainants were brought to the barangay hall by a group of men at around 11:00 a.m., Estrella reportedly asked them, “unsa may gibuhat ninyo diri?” “Ngano naabot man mo diri, nagsamok samok mo sa among barangay,” and they were not allowed to leave.

Twenty minutes later, the complainants said Mayor Martinez reportedly arrived and uttered, “mao ni?” and slapped Piape in the presence of many people.

After admitting he is the group leader, Paberan alleged that Mayor Martinez forcibly pulled him up and said, “maldito ka?” Kinsa may isog ninyo?”

Mayor Martinez also allegedly slapped Codera and one companion who is a 16-year-old boy.

The mayor also allegedly accused Villanueva of being a trouble maker in Barangay Cayang.

Later on, Tining, who is the barangay captain of Cayang, reportedly arrived together with Mayol and allegedly punched Codera in the face while Mayor Carlo also kicked Catamco in his chest.

While inside the barangay hall, Mayol also allegedly slapped Paberan in the face.

The complainants alleged that they were forced by Martinez’s lawyer, Atty. Al Jason Minguez, to sign a document forcing them to admit that they created trouble in the barangay and were able to leave the barangay hall when One Cebu Party lawyer rescued and defended them and brought them to Bogo City Police Station.

In a separate letter, Pacifico furnished copies of the complaint to the offices of President Rodrigo Duterte, dela Rosa, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, Police Director-General Oscar Albayalde, Commission on Elections and Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino. (FREEMAN)