Bacolod politicians cry foul over ‘harassment’

BACOLOD CITY: The run-up to the May 2020 elections in Bacolod City is fast heating up as candidates of the opposition group Team Asenso Bacolod described two recent incidents in the past week as “harassments.’

Former Bacolod councilor Homer Bais, in a post on Thursday, said around 9 a.m. on Thursday, February 3, while he was on his way to a caucus in Sitio Sibucao, Barangay Banago, his vehicle was hailed by police manning a checkpoint.

“The police officer leading the team at the checkpoint asked me to roll down my windows, but I refused and insisted that they should observe the plain-view doctrine of inspecting passing vehicles,” according to Bais.

“The motive was obvious. My personal observation, harassment. If the checkpoint was at Puno Banago, it would not have been obvious. Their checkpoint was placed near where we were talking and consulting the people in the area and was aimed at harassing us,” he said.

Bais added that he recognized the team leader manning the checkpoint as a certain Rollo, who allegedly used to be a former security aide of incumbent Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

Revo Sorbito, acting city election officer of Bacolod, in a separate interview said Team Asenso led by Albee Benitez should file a complaint with the Office of the City Election Officer if they feel that they were unduly harassed by the police at a checkpoint.

As to his name being dragged in the controversial checkpoint, Sorbito also said “he has no prior knowledge of the checkpoint.”

The police, in setting up checkpoints, should coordinate with the Commission on Elections, he added.

Earlier, another former city councilor, lawyer Caesar Distrito, also complained that his group’s campaign materials were being removed by personnel of the City Legal Office (CLO).

“Be fair,” Distrito said in an appeal on his Facebook account.

He also said it was the second time that their tarpaulins were removed by the members of the CLO.

Distrito also wondered why only their tarpaulins were being removed, while some tarpaulins of “Halong Bacolod” and other national candidates that were hung on electrical posts were not taken down.

The former councilor, who used to be a member of Grupo Progreso of Leonardia, said the city government should be fair in removing the tarpaulins because these materials were provided by their volunteers and supporters.

Wiflredo Geolingo, head of Task Force Disiplina, said they started removing illegal posters in various areas in Bacolod City last month.

He added that posters on electrical posts and trees were considered illegal.

Distrito is running for vice mayor while Bais is seeking a seat in the city council under Team Asenso.