Tuburan mayoralty bet claims harassment

THE One Cebu mayoralty candidate in Tuburan town asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to place the area under its control after two of her supporters were allegedly harassed by people identified with Mayor Democrito Diamante Jr.

In a press conference yesterday Dr. Rose Marie Suezo presented two of her supporters, one of whom was reportedly shot by unidentified men in one of Tuburan’s barangays.

Another was clobbered with plastic chairs by alleged Diamante supporters at a bakery last Friday.

Diamante’s lawyers said they will address the complaints in a press conference on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Suezo’s 28-year-old supporter Noel Mabolo is confined at the intensive care unit of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center after sustaining gunshot wounds in the lungs and left portion of his body.

Suezo said she talked with her supporter at the hospital.

Another 49-year-old victim, Helpon Cataraha, of barangay Apalan and a helper of Suezo’s running mate, vice mayoralty candidate Daphne Lagon, sustained bruises.

Catarha said the assailants clobbered him after they identified him as a Suezo supporter.

One of them also hit him with a gun. Lagon said she may hire a bodyguard to protect her.

Suezo said they condemn these acts of violence towards her supporters.

Her lawyer, Delon Richel Ramon Urot, said they are asking the Comelec to transfer the town’s election officer Gilbert Pepito for his alleged bias against One Cebu candidates. Correspondent Renan Alangilan