La Union mayoral bet, 7 men face kidnap raps

AGOO, La Union – A female mayoral bet of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD here, her husband and six others are facing charges for allegedly abducting three supporters of this town’s incumbent mayor on Good Friday.

In a complaint submitted Monday to the office of prosecutor Pablo Lachica, charges of kidnapping or serious illegal detention, grave threats and violation of the Omnibus Election Code were filed against mayoral candidate Tess Dumpit-Michelina, her husband Chris Michelina, Jerry Emperador, Luis Quero, Ronnie de Guzman and a certain Cezar, Klaus, and Peter.

Following this, Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa revoked police escorts of second district congressional candidate Dr. Eufranio Eriguel and Agoo mayoral bet Ma. Theresa Dumpit-Michellena. (See related story in page 2).

Complainant Roger Espiritu, a resident of San Julian West this town and a supporter of Mayor Sandra Eriguel, alleged that he was forcibly taken from the house of his cousin Ritchie Buyan where he had sought refuge after Dumpit-Michelina accused him of disrupting her campaign for allegedly detonating an improvised explosive.

“These people wanted me to admit that I was the one who caused the detonation. I told them in the presence of many barangay residents that I do not know about their accusation,” Espiritu said in his affidavit.

He said he was forcibly taken to the house of Dumpit-Michelina in Barangay San Julian East at noon of Good Friday.

He alleged that the companions of Dumpit-Michelina held him and tried to force him into her van but he refused because there were armed men in the vehicle.

Instead, Espiritu and his cousin were forced to go to the house of Dumpit-Michelina by riding a tricycle of Emperador, one of the respondents, and were allegedly locked up in one of the rooms there.

Later, the victims’ aunt Remedios Carrera, followed them at Dumpit-Michelina’s house but was also allegedly held.

After an hour, Dumpit-Michelina allegedly entered the room where the two cousins and their aunt were held. Later someone went inside and told the mayoral bet that armed men were approaching the area.

Both Espiritu and Buyan alleged that Dumpit-Michelina ordered her civilian escorts to shoot at the approaching men.

While the shooting was happening, Buyan and Carrera were able to escape but Espiritu was left inside for several more hours until policemen arrived.

Dumpit-Michelina allegedly allowed Espiritu to go out of the room where he was held upon the intercession of Chief Inspector Julio Gorospe, the town’s police chief.

A TV reporter who had talked to Dumpit-Michelina said she denied any kidnapping, explaining that the complainants voluntarily went with them to her house.

Dumpit-Michelina’s camp has reportedly filed frustrated murder charges against the civilians who fired at her house.

She accused Dr. Frany Eriguel, husband of Mayor Eriguel and congressional bet in the second district, as one of the attackers.

However, Dr. Eriguel and the supposedly armed civilians tested negative for gunpowder burns after undergoing paraffin tests. -- JE