The camp of councilor-reelect Antonio Omus of Tubigon town wanted for the immediate release of his van being held for being suspected to have been loaded with cash for vote-buying and weapons, said his counsel Atty. Florendo Columnas.
It will be recalled that supporters of mayor-elect William Jao of Nacionalista Party of this town intercepted on election day a maroon Isuzu Crosswind with license plate number GSD-672, allegedly owned by Omus, being suspected of carrying cash for vote-buying and weapons.
There is no clear basis for holding it for long, Columnas said in an interview. Columnas said that until now or after three days since the van was held, the camp of Jao has yet to file an appropriate information against his client. Omus was with the slate of Jao's opponent incumbent Mayor Luna Piezas.
In a check with the Comelec, there still none being filed.
Jao's men, who intercepted the van, has secure last Tuesday a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court to open the van to find out if there really was money and weapons in it.
Reports said that ready-to-distribute stapled money worth more than P40,000 was found inside the said vehicle. Police could not be contacted neither Mayor Piezas yesterday (May 14 vesper day here) for confirmation if the said report was true.
It was learned that newly-installed provincial police director Rdolfo Llorca personally served the search warrant in Tubigon a day after the holding of the van.
Meanwhile, while the Comelec described the conduct of elections as generally peaceful, a Ford Ranger wit license plate
number CGH-134, owned by incumbent Clarin town Mayor and Vice-Mayor-elect Hermogenes Diezon, was riddled with bullets from unknown armed men.
In an interview yesterday, SPO3 Jose Tajanlangit, chief investigator of this town, about seven kms north of Tubigon, said the shooting of the vehicle took place at Poblacion at around or past 3 AM on election day. No one was hurt or hit, he said.
The vehicle bore 7 bullet holes at the back and two at the front of unknown caliber. No empty shells were recovered, however. Until now the police probers are still facing a blank wall as to who are responsible for the shooting. (RVO) - Bohol Chronicle
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