BY FELIPE CELINO

ROXAS City – Sapian Vice Mayor Ralph Odrunia keeps his silence over allegations that he ordered to mob two mediamen covering the special elections in Brgy. Poblacion, Sapian on Wednesday.

Until now, Ordunia cannot be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, Sapian Mayor Arturo Orosco directed the policemen to thoroughly investigate the case.

There will be no “whitewash” in the investigation, the mayor assured the GMA 7 Iloilo management.

A man who requested for anonymity pointed to Ordunia as the one who ordered the “attack” on Joecel Huesca, reporter for Ratsada of GMA 7 Iloilo and his cameraman John Philip Torino.
The man identified Ordunia in a video footage captured by Torino showing a man giving orders to attack the mediamen.

ATTACK
Huesca and Torino were covering the special barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in Brgy. Poblacion, Sapian held at the Sapian Central Elementary School when they were mobbed by election supporters.

The man said Ordunia ordered supporters Reynaldo Villanueva and Elsor Oducado Jose to mob Huesca and Torino.

Huesca identified Villanueva as the one who punched Torino on the head while the latter was taking footages.

Villanueva snatched the video camera from Torino, he said, but returned it after 30 minutes.

Other persons linked in the “attack” were Norberto Sabolbora, Mario Baldisimo and former Sangguniang Bayan member Odong Vista.

Sabolbora and Villanueva were employees of the Sapian Municipal Hall, while Baldisimo is a tricycle driver, sources said.

LOST
Odrunia’s brother Lyndon is one of the four candidates running for barangay captain in Brgy. Poblacion, Sapian.

However, Lyndon and two other candidates — Donie Oducado and Jorge Martinez — lost to Reynaldo Jamero./PN