Nacar, Verzosa swap charges of harassment
DASOL HEATING UP
DASOL—The campaign for the mayoralty race here is heating up with counter legal charges filed by the two opposing camps for alleged physical violence during an incident on April 1.
The mayoralty candidates here are re-electionist Mayor Noel Nacar, who is also the president of the Pangasinan Mayors’ League, and Eric Verzosa, son of retired Philippine National Police chief Jesus Verzosa.
Five supporters of Verzosa filed last April 8 criminal charges against Nacar and four others for physical injuries, grave threats and malicious mischief after they were allegedly mauled on April 1 in Barangay Malimpin.
Aside from Nacar, the respondents are Engr. Amado Balaoing, Reynaldo Balaoing, Romeo Verzosa and Jesus Reyes while the complainants are Robert Canilang, Archie Nomus, Roger Valderama, Pedro Balatico and Robert Naranja, all from this town.
Canilang told local newsmen that Nacar and his group mauled, berated and even threatened to kill them.
Benjamin de los Santos, counsel of the complainants, told local newsmen that Papagkaduwa Inc. Dasol (Unity Team), which is composed of lawyers, filed the case in Alaminos City to ensure that the supporters of candidate Verzosa would get justice.
De los Santos said they are also considering filing civil cases with the Comelec for electoral offenses before the Ombudsman that could lead to suspension of public officials involved.
De los Santos said four policemen executed affidavits attesting to the investigation and the alleged mauling by the mayor and his company on the five victims.
HARASSMENT
Meanwhile, Nacar also filed on April 4 charges against seven people who are identified as supporters of Verzosa, including the five who filed a case against him.
“Ako ang biktima dito,” said Nacar during a press conference he called on April 9.
He said that in the afternoon of April 1, Verzosa’s supporters disturbed his meeting at the Barangay Hall of Malimpin, after tailing the former’s convoy.
As stated in his complaint affidavit, Nacar narrated that a group of motorcycle-riding persons have disturbed his meeting by keeping the noise level of their motorcycles’ mufflers extremely high, taunting him and his followers.
He identified the men as Roger Valderama, Arche Nomus, Robert Canilang, Robert Naranja, Pedro Balatico, Regemio Banigon, and Roger Sison.
The mayor also accused them of blocking his vehicle after disturbing his meeting.
Nacar filed charges for grave coercion and direct assault on a person in authority.
He said the Liga ng mga Barangay in his town had passed a resolution denouncing the presence of the motorcycle-riding supporters of Verzosa.
Nacar said he could present as many as 50 people to testify on what really happened that afternoon.
Meanwhile, Verzosa’s supporters were allegedly angry over the removal of posters of Team Papagkaduwa Inc. Dasol, members of the Liberal Party-United Nationalist Alliance team, in Barangay Malimpin.
Nacar countered that he did not order the removal of the posters and pointed to other authorities behind it possibly for violation of Comelec campaign rules.
Nacar earlier requested the Commission on Elections (ComElec) and Philippine National Police (PNP) for a meeting between him and Verzosa, which was set April 3, during which a peace covenant signing was even conducted. – Eva Visperas & Johanne Macob
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