LINGAYEN—A case of grave threats, kidnapping, and of the election code have been filed against re-electionist 2ndDistrict Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, his brother, Councilor Ramon Bataoil, who is also running for re-election, and four John Does at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office Friday afternoon.

The complainant is a supporter of congressional candidate Kim Lokin, who is running against Bataoil.

———————————————————————————————–

BATAOIL’S STATEMENT:

“I will answer all the charges in a proper forum. I vehemently deny all the allegations and I consider all said charges as a desperate act of a perennial losing candidate”, said Congressman Bataoil in response to the charges filed against him by Lokin.

————————————————————————————————

Docketed as case no. 3D-00151 filed at 3:25 p.m., the complaint, subscribed and sworn to before Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Raul Campos, said the acts were committed on April 18 at 11 a.m. in Sagrado Street, Barangay Libsong East and in BLISS Compound, both in Lingayen town.

The complainant, whose identity was withheld for security reasons, claims in the sworn affidavit that he was with a friend driving on the way to Lingayen when they spotted the distribution of goods by several of the Bataoils’ staff wearing t-shirts bearing the brothers’ names.

The complainant then parked, took out his camera, stepped out of the car and took pictures of the alleged vote buying activity.

The complainant also claims that he personally heard that the recipients of the goods were being told that these came from Rep. Bataoil and his brother.

The complainant was then spotted by personnel of Councilor Bataoil, prompting him to board a pedicab to avoid being accosted, but a white L-300 van overtook the ride, blocked the path and asked him why he was taking pictures.

“Luckily, I was able to hand over my camera to a friend when the personnel of Councilor Bataoil accosted me and forced me against my will to go with them, and immediately brought me to the house of Councilor Ramon Bataoil, and was detained thereat for about an hour. Councilor Bataoil was there and was angry at me and ordered his men to frisk me. The latter did but found nothing. Councilor Ramon Bataoil then told me: Agka ja makapaway anggad agmo ipaway itay camera. Saliwen ko lad sika nu gabay mo na P10,000 o lamayan da kala,” the complainant’s affidavit read.

“Thereafter, he (Councilor Bataoil) allowed me to go home and to immediately hand over the camera to him. So I immediately went to my friend and got the camera,” it added.

The complainant added he could identify his kidnappers who brought him to the councilor’s house.—Eva Visperas

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments