• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A mayoral candidate in Escalante City during the synchronized May 12 elections faces two counts of PD 1689, or Syndicated Estafa.
Je-ar Escares, 36, was apprehended on August 13 at Sitio Sinambulong 2, Barangay Mabini, Escalante City, Negros Occidental, by virtue of an arrest warrant.
He was also served another arrest warrant for similar charges, issued by San Carlos Regional Trial Court Judge Arville Guyod Delgado, on Aug. 18, at the police detention facility at Circumferential Road in Brgy. Hacienda Fe, Escalante City.
PLt. Col. Albert Sy, Escalante City police chief, said that Escares, who was tagged as a local leader of the Alpha Omega World Development Program, had numerous complaints aired against him, even from among his members.
Initial police investigations showed that members of the group were promised a five-hectare land, in exchange for payment of their monthly dues.
The group is led by their founder, Tiburcio Villamor Marcos Tagean Tallano IV, and has members all over Negros Island and other areas of the country.
Following his arrest, the Escalante police also discovered diggings in Sitio Sinambulong 2, Brgy. Mabini, Escalante City, which were reportedly used as a hiding place of Escares.
Escares, who is now detained at Escalante City police custodial facility, was denied bail by Judge Delgado.
Sy said that additional charges of attempted homicide and direct assault upon persons in authority were also filed against Escares, after he tried to shoot at the arresting police officers.*
