Mayor files gun-tote raps vs provincial accountant

By Dexter A See

KIANGAN, Ifugao – The municipal mayor of this world heritage town charged a ranking employee of the Ifugao provincial government for grave threats and illegal possession of firearms after the latter reportedly poked his alleged unlicensed gun at him in front of a waiting shed in Poblacion here recently.

A report submitted to the office of Chief Supy. Orlando Pestano, regional police director, identified the complainant as Mayor Jonathan Magno Cuyahon, 41, married and a resident of Pindogan, Kiangan while the respondent was named Charles Puguon Baguilat, 47, married and the assistant provincial accountant of the Ifugao provincial government.

Cuyahon was reportedly driving his car after conducting routinary check on curfew hour compliance at Sitio Ulo, Baguinge and was at the road in front of the parking space located at Sitio Pico, Tuplac here when a vehicle sped up behind him.

However, he ignored such speeding vehicle and continued to drive at moderate speed.

While at Lunga’s eatery located about 50 meters away, the vehicle behind him reportedly sped up and overtook his vehicle with the one inside the vehicle simultaneously shouting “tataim” meaning shit you.”

At this point, the victim reportedly recognized Baguilat who was at the driver’s seat and a certain Derrick Humiwat, 26, married, a driver and resident of Poblacion, Kiangan, Ifugao who was seated beside the driver.

Cuyahon followed the vehicle driven by Baguilat and while they were in front of the a store, the vehicle driven by the said suspect stopped so he stopped.

Suddenly, the vehicle driven by the suspect began to move backward so he drove his vehicle backward to avoid direct collision while blowing his horn to warn the first vehicle.

At this juncture, the suspect stopped his car, alighted from it and approached the mayor who lowered the window of his car and said “Agagam boy, naboteng kayo key a kay kukwayuy Kiangan (You are too much. If you are drunk, it seems you own Kiangan)”.

The suspect replied no, then went back to his vehicle and allegedly got a handgun, returned back and pointed it at the victim’s face as he reportedly remained seated.

Cuyahon then pleaded to the suspect to let him leave but the suspect kept on pointing his firearm, thus, he told him he won’t forget the incident in his lifetime but the suspect continued pointing his gun at the victim’s face saying, “I will kill you.”

Cuyahon tried to find means to leave for safety but he was not able to until SPO4 Joseph Danglay, sPO4 Ignacio Baybayan and SPO2 Julio Daligdig arrived at the crime scene and saw the suspect holding a firearm.

The policemen ordered Baguilat to surrender the firearm but Danglay saw Humiwat, his companion, packing a gun and focused his attention on him and was able to disarm him.

Baybayan continued demanding Baguilat to surrender his firearm but the latter ignored such appeal and continued walking to the road towards Pindogan until he was able to run away.

Humiwat was subsequently detained at the municipal station for charges of illegal possession of firearms but Baguilat was reportedly able to escape with his unlicensed firearm.