A complaint was filed yesterday against Eddie Guillem, re-elected Central Negros Cooperative director of District III (Bacolod Central) and his alleged bodyguard for allegedly maltreating a fruit vendor and his nephew at Amelia Mercedes Street, Brgy. 40 in Bacolod City at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday.

Complainant Rafael Ramirez Sayon, 39, married, of Lizares Extension, Brgy. 40 lodged physical injuries complaints at Precinct 6 against Guillem and his unidentified bodyguard.

Sayon also said SPO1 Eduard Federizo, a member of the Bacolod police, punched him in his mouth, causing some of his teeth to fall off. He said Guillem and his companions brought him to a vegetable warehouse in Brgy. 40, police reports said.

Francis Jamil Sayon Tan, 30, single, of Brgy. 40 told the police he went to the warehouse when he learned what had happened to his uncle and a certain "Taling" poked his firearm at him when he arrived. He said "Taling" also pushed him towards the warehouse where he was pistol-whipped, and hit in the head and right portion of his body, police reports said.

Meanwhile, Guillem yesterday told the DAILY STAR in a phone interview that he did not maltreat any of the complainants and was, in fact, trying to pacify them and his supporters. He said he believes the incident stemmed from an altercation between his supporter, Richel Gonzales, and Sayon earlier on Sunday.

He said he was told that Sayon had kicked and insulted Gonzales and he went to clarify the matter with Sayon who, he said, acted rudely when confronted.

He said one of his supporters got offended and boxed Sayon, prompting him to pacify them. He said he brought Sayon to his warehouse for his safety.

Later, he said, Tan and his other family members rushed to the warehouse and demand the release of Sayon, and this resulted in another commotion. He said he tried to pacify the rumble with the help of responding policemen.

Guillem said he did not see Federizo in the act of boxing Sayon as he claimed.

Meanwhile, SPO1 Federizo, detailed in Police Precinct 9, yesterday said he was having dinner with PO3 Ruel Villacanas of Police Precinct 6 when an unidentified man approached and asked them to pacify several men involved in a ramble.

Federizo said he and Villacanas responded and pacified the commotion. But he did not know those involved in it.

Bacolod City police director Senior Supt. Pedro Merced yesterday urged the complainants to file complaints against Federizo before his office so a pre-charge investigation could be conducted.

Merced said Federizo will be held liable if the allegation against him is proven. He said Federizo, a former City Mobile Group operative, was re-assigned to Police Precinct 9, and had not been assigned to the CENECO office.

Meanwhile, Richie Gonzales, 27, lodged complaints of unjust vexation and slander by deeds against Sayon for allegedly insulting her and which resulted in an altercation at the latter's fruit stand in Brgy. 40 at about 6 p.m. Saturday.

Gonzales, a campaign leader of Guillem, yesterday told the DAILY STAR, she was about to go to the church when heavy rain poured and she sought shelter in the fruit stand of Sayon, who accidentally touched her legs. She said she called Sayon's attention and he answered her rudely and an altercation took place between them. They went to Police Precinct 6 to settle the argument, she said.

She said she identified Sayon and his nephew as campaign leaders of Rodolfo Salga who was Guillem's opponent in the recent CENECO elections.*DMG

back to top