CEBU City Councilor Gerry Carillo was accused of striking a 16-year-old boy on his head, using a rock, during a rumble in Kuerks Restobar on Pelaez St., Cebu City at 4 a.m. last Sunday.
Joseph Niño Pugoy, 16, a resident of Barangay Ermita, suffered severe head injuries and was still reportedly unconscious. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.
His brother, PO1 Kenneth Pugoy, said Joseph underwent surgery yesterday.
Three minors who went to the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said that at 3 a.m. last Sunday, they were having some drinks with Joseph in Kuerks Restobar on Pelaez St.
While they were having fun, another group of boys from a separate table started to argue with them, until a fistfight started.
“Nag rumble mi didto sa gawas sa pikas grupo. Wala gyud niuwang namo na bouncer (The brawl took place outside. No bouncer intervened),” said one of the minors.
He said that Carillo approached them, then struck Joseph’s head with a rock.
Owner?
“Si Konsehal Carillo gyud to ang nihapak. Kaila mi niya kay siya man sad ang tag-iya sa restobar (It was Councilor Carillo. We recognized him because he also owns the restobar),” said the witness.
The witness said that after Carillo struck Joseph’s head, the teenager fell on the ground, bleeding, while Carillo went back inside the restobar.
Carillo was not in his office at Cebu City Hall and could not be reached through his mobile phone.
But in a DyAB radio interview, Carillo said he was there and responded to the incident together with barangay tanods, but he didn’t hit the minor with a rock.
Carillo’s lawyer, Noel Archival, in a separate interview, said his client does not own the restobar. He also denied that Carillo struck Joseph’s head.
“It is best to wait for the victim to wake up para siya na ang makasulti (so he can narrate what happened) rather than rely on the witnesses’ statements,” said Archival.
Other witnesses
The lawyer said they already gathered their own witnesses, who will say that Carillo was not the one who struck the victim’s head.
PO 1 Pugoy, Joseph’s older brother, is assigned in the Parian Police Station in Cebu City, while his father SPO1 Samuel Pugoy is also a police officer in Lapu-Lapu City.
Joseph’s friends said they had to call for help and boarded a multicab on their way to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).
The incident was recorded in the blotter of Parian Police Station.
According to the police record, Carillo and Earl Edward Cutada were accused by four minors of causing them physical injuries.
Joseph was listed as one of the victims, but the blotter entry did not say anything about the councilor striking the teenager’s head with a rock.
The police blotter only stated there was a physical injury complaint against Carillo and Cutada.
Homicide help
The Parian police said they forwarded the case to the Homicide Section for impartiality’s sake, because Joseph’s brother is a police officer assigned with the Parian police.
Homicide Section Investigator Rey Cuyos said they are still waiting for Joseph’s medical certificate.
They invited the Pugoy family, the three witnesses and Carillo yesterday to the Homicide Office. Carillo denied the allegations, but the Pugoys are determined to file a complaint against him.
“We are starting to gather affidavits for the case pero draft pa lang,” Cuyos said.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants the Department of Social Welfare Services to check why a minor was inside the bar.
He also tasked the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council, through presiding officer Eugene Elizalde, to coordinate with CCPO’s Mariano Natu-el in conducting an inquiry on the matter.
Cebu City councilor Gerry Carillo accused of 'hitting' teen's head in bar brawl | Sun.Star
Councilor hit teen’s head?
Originally Posted by zam_xy
Reply With Quote
Posting Permissions
