Armed men barge into Catanduanes lawmaker’s house
LEGAZPI CITY, ALBAY, Philippines — While police are investigating whether the alleged harassment on his family is election-related or not, Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento has a suspect who, he said, “has political connections.”
Sarmiento, in a telephone interview on Wednesday, said he was in San Andres town in Catanduanes campaigning when armed men in military uniform and ski masks forcibly entered the house in the capital town of Virac where his wife, Stella Marie, and their daughter, Zsarita, were staying with relatives on Saturday night.
Without giving any name, Sarmiento said the suspect “has connections with an identified political figure.”
The lawmaker is now running for Catanduanes governor under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan in the May 13 elections against reelectionist Gov. Joseph Cua of United Nationalist Alliance, former broadcaster Marlon Suplig of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, independent candidate Fernando Chavez and Vega Rene of Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan.
Sarmiento said Zsarita contacted his staff on Saturday night, asking him to come home as men armed with rifles were at their door.
“I am confident they would not dare return. We have police around the area now,” he said.
Police said the men forcibly entered the house at Barangay Ibong Sapa in Virac and handcuffed the guards, Rey Vargas and John Tabios, and Antonio Barba, a bystander and tricycle driver.
According to Col. Paul Abay, provincial police director, family members told investigators that the men were calling on Zsarita when they barged into the house, destroying locks and doorknobs with a hammer.
Locals
Sarmiento believed the men were calling on his daughter to gain access to the house.
“We believe they were locals,” he added.
The lawmaker’s wife and daughter locked themselves in one of the rooms, while a grandson was able to hide in another section of the house.
The men left when they failed to enter the room. They were seen heading toward the town center of Virac aboard a maroon sport utility vehicle.
Sarmiento said his wife and daughter were traumatized.
“This is the first time that anything like this has happened in Catanduanes. Elections here are always peaceful,” Abay said. —Shiena Barrameda
