• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday described the claim of a minor of being slapped by a local government official, as an “unfortunate incident.”
A minor has accused Murcia Vice Mayor Johnny Reosura of allegedly slapping him, which the local government official has denied.
The complainant, a 15-year-old victim, whose identity is being withheld, claimed in a media interview on Thursday at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City, that the slapping incident took place in a meeting supposed to be called to settle the conflict between him and a minor nephew of Reosura.
The victim further claimed that the 15-year-old nephew of Reosura bullied them regularly and challenged the victim’s group in a fistfight.
He said that the fight between them and the nephew of Reosura took place on November 2 outside the Bacolod Golf and Country Club in Hda. Binitin, Brgy. Blumentritt, Murcia.
After hearing of the incident involving the nephew of the vice mayor, the victim said he and his companions were summoned to the house of the local government official, which he thought was to settle the conflict.
A police blotter report filed at the Murcia police indicated that Reosura confronted the victim for the brass knuckles that were supposedly used on his nephew.
When he turned over the brass knuckles to Reosura, after being threatened with being handcuffed, the victim said he was slapped on the left side of his face, and his face was pressed.
Reosura, who denied the accusations against him, insisted the incident had already been settled.
He claimed that a local politician is using that incident to raise an issue against him, stressing also that he is willing to face charges to be filed against him.
“I am willing to face the accusations they will file,” he said.
When asked for his comment on the alleged maltreatment of a minor by Vice Mayor Reosura, Lacson said that the incident is now being investigated by authorities.
So, I think both sides should be heard, he stressed.
Describing it as an unfortunate incident, let’s also hear the accused first, Lacson said.*
