Cebu Provincial Board Member Christopher Baricuatro, who is seeking reelection in the May 13, 2019 elections, requests the police to be fair and impartial as authorities investigate the reported firing of gun shots in his house past 9 p.m. on May 11 . PHOTO from Christopher Baricuatro’s Facebook Page
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Incumbent Cebu Provincial Board Member Christopher “Dong” Baricuatro said they heard three loud gunshots past 9 p.m. on May 11 in the vicinity of his house in Barangay Ilaya, Dumanjug town.
But police said persons living in the area did not hear any sound.
“It was so loud so it’s impossible for the people nearby not to hear it,” he said in a text message sent to CDN Digital at 9:41 p.m. on Sunday, May 12.
Baricuatro, who is seeking another term as board member, said he was approaching his car when he heard the gunshots.
There were several people in his house as party members and supporters were having their customary night coffee gathering.
Dong is the son of mayoral candidate Cesar Baricuatro, who is currently a councilor of Dumanjug town.
The two government officials live in the same house.
Dong said former Dumanjug mayor Nelson Garcia and some volunteers were present when the gunshots were heard.
He suspects that the people chose to stay silent about the incident because of fear.
Dong reported the incident to the police past 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 11.
But Police Captain Clemente Ceralde, chief of Dumanjug Police Station, said in a phone interview that the persons living in the area said they did not hear any gunfire when they investigated the incident.
He said they did not retrieve any slugs and did not find any damage to property.
Ceralde said that they are now securing the area with checkpoints for precautionary measures.
“Hind pa naming sinasabi na walang nagpaputok. Ang importante nag investigate pa tayo para makasohan natin sila,” said Ceralde.
(We are not saying that nobody fired any shots. What is important now is that we are conducting an investigation so that we can file a case.)
Baricuatro requested the police to be fair and impartial in their investigation.
Addressing the police, he said: “Just be fair and impartial, (and) conduct checkpoints tonight up to early morning.” / celr