■ MAYOR STANDS BY TUMULAK, VOWS TO HELP WITH CASES

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña assured Councilor Dave Tumulak that he will provide the latter with all the support he needs as he faces cases filed against him.

Last week, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 7 made good its threat against Tumulak and three unidentified tanods for allegedly mauling a police asset who drove the motorcycle that PO3 Eugene Calumba was riding when the latter was shot.

SPO4 Reynaldo Romero, case investigator, filed cases against Tumulak and three others for grave threats, physical injuries, and grave coercion. Assisted by his lawyer Inocencio de la Cerna, complainant Michael Banua filed the complaints against Tumulak before the Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor.

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 is also mulling filing an obstruction of justice case against the councilor.

PRO 7 Director Debold Sinas said that Tumulak took evidence from the crime scene.

Tumulak, though, has since denied committing physical injury against Banua because he was not inside the vehicle when the driver was brought to the hospital. He added that he was the one who asked residents in the area not to harm Banua.

In his news conference yesterday, Mayor Osmeña said they have enough evidence to support Tumulak’s claim. “That’s okay, that’s their way of twisting things around. We have the video of the guy being beaten up before Tumulak even arrived, I saw it. This is their way of intimidating the people of Cebu. They’re trying to set the tone. Intimidating is another form of terrorizing,” he said.