San Dionisio cops rap Lopezes; Lopezes file counter-charges
After their heated confrontation, members of San Dionisio Police Station and the camp of Vice Mayor Peter Paul Lopez and mayoralty bet Brgy. Capt. Eugenio Eusebio “Bebot” Lopez brought their war before the courts.
The other day, the five policemen who figured in the disarming incident filed throng of complaints against the Lopezes and their supporters.
SPO3 Rene del Castillo, PO1 Freznedie dela Cruz, PO1 Kenneth Alayon, PO3 Richard Ufino, and Edwin Arbita filed charges for violations of Republic Act 8294 of illegal possession of firearm, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 8714 or the gun ban, Article 148 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) or direct assault to an agent of person in authority, and Article 151 of RPC or resistance and disobedience to an agent of person in authority against Vice Mayor Peter Paul Lopez. Eusebio, Peter’s wife Sally, Avelino Bañez, Rodrigo Azuelo, Bongbong Apid, Nico Bañez, Roxas Lachica, Bernabe Bañez, Renilo Apid, Reynaldo Bañez, Romiter Boga, Brgy. Capt. Isaiah Selodonio, and 20 other John Does.
Aside from the said cases, the five cops slapped the respondents with additional charges like attempted murder, grave coercion, obstruction of justice, and robbery with the use of firearms and intimidation.
Brgy. Capt. Radney Cayetano of Talu-ato, San Dionisio, one of those who executed an affidavit, claimed that oppression has escalated in their town starting 1997.
“Si Sally may dala tana nga pusil. Si Vice (Peter Paul), naga bandolier... naga-uribay ka baby armalite. Si Kap (Eusebio), amo man. May armalite man. Ginkuha niya pa to ang armalite ni Patrolman (PO1 Freznedie) dela Cruz kag gin-uribay ya. Nag-duha na ka bilog nga armalite ang gina-uribay niya,” he attested.
Not to be outdone, the Lopezes, through their counsel lawyer Atty. Alfredo Arungayan, also filed criminal and administrative charges against the policemen.
The criminal charges are for violations of Articles 128 (Violation of domicile) and 131 (Prohibition, interruption, and dissolution of peaceful meetings) of the RPC.
Among the administrative charges they filed before the National Police Commission (Napolcom) are conduct unbecoming of a police officers and serious irregular performance of duties.
The charges and counter-charges stemmed from last Sunday’s incident wherein two cops were disarmed after they responded to a call in Brgy. Bagacay, San Dionisio.
A concerned citizen informed San Dionisio PNP that Brgy. Captain Eugenio Eusebio “Bebot” Lopez, who was allegedly armed with a handgun, allegedly accosted persons passing through hacienda road.
Eusebio was allegedly asking for a “toll fee” of the people passing through their property.
After receiving the information, five cops responded to the area to verify the report.
The tension started after the cops asked for documents for the legality of the firearms allegedly carried by the two Lopez brothers.
As they were poked with guns, the Lopezes’ supporters then disarmed the two policemen with a caliber .45 pistol and an M-16 armalite rifle.
The guns were later turned over to Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director Senior Supt. Renato Gumban.
