Rapiz hits back at Carles dad

By Erly C. Garcia

The rift between Senior Insp. Leroy Rapiz and Carles municipal councilor Nelson Sabando has worsened after the latter recently accused Rapiz of stealing illegal lumber when he was still chief of police of the said town.

Rapiz said he is now consulting with his lawyer Atty. Hector Teodosio in preparation for the filing of a libel case against Sabando.

Rapiz denied Sabando's accusation saying he formally turned over the said illegal lumber to the Camp Delgado warehouse.

A check with SPO3 Abundio Pabilona, Camp Delgado's warehouse custodian confirmed the existence of said lumber in their custody.

Pabilona told defense reporters that Rapiz turned over 1,116 board feet of lumber on May 6 last year contrary to the allegation of Sabando that Rapiz brought home the illegal lumber.

Earlier, Sabando has asked National Bureau of Investigation Regional Director Atty. Oscar Embido to look into the accusations that Rapiz is harassing and threatening fisher folks in Carles.

Also, Sabando asked the NBI to check what appears to be an illegal implementation by Rapiz of the Republic Act 8550, or the Fisheries Code.

Commenting on this, Rapiz said that Sabando has an axe to grind against him reason why he is throwing all sorts of accusations to discredit him. (With reports from Double R of RMN 774 Iloilo)