A private individual from Leyte has unexpectedly lodged criminal charges against several prominent figures, including a local lawmaker, a mayor, a lawyer, and multiple members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police in the Eastern Visayas.
The complainant, Darlito Sevilla Nuñez, a resident of Barangay Manlawan in Tabango, Leyte filed the allegations on October 23, accusing Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez, Tabango Mayor Bernard Jonathan Remandaban, and lawyer Rem Beryl Veloso of serious offenses.
Nuñez's complaint was facilitated by the barangay chief, Albert Morilla, who has the authority to act on his behalf. The charges pertain to allegations of grave coercion, intimidation, and threats directed at Nuñez. The complaint specifically mentions Col. Arwin Tadeo, the regional chief of CIDG-PNP 8, along with EMS Samson Picardal, Pat. Fernando Songalia Jr., and eight unidentified members of the CIDG from Tacloban City and Ormoc City.
The filing was submitted to the Office of the Assistant Provincial Prosecutor of the Department of Justice in Palompon, Leyte. According to Morilla, through a special power of attorney granted by Nuñez, the accused parties allegedly pressured Nuñez to sign a sworn statement implicating former Court of Appeals Justice Vicente "Ching" Veloso II as the mastermind behind the killing of Anthony Nuñez in 2016.
Morilla has asserted that the CIDG officers, led by Picardal and Songalia, visited Nuñez’s home and purportedly offered him a monetary reward of five million pesos, along with 24-hour security, as an incentive to execute the sworn statement that would link the former Leyte lawmaker to the murder. He claims that the visits from the CIDG took place in August and September of 2024, during which Gomez, Remandaban, and Veloso were allegedly involved.
The accused mayor, Remandaban, said that he has yet to receive any official subpoena regarding the charges.
In contrast, Gomez has refrained from making a public statement, citing that he has already participated in an interview with the media. Meanwhile, Tadeo has not responded to text messages requesting his comment.
The backdrop to these events involves the political landscape of Leyte, as former Court of Appeals Associate Justice Vicente Veloso is currently contesting Gomez's reelection bid.
Veloso has recently shifted his candidacy to the fourth district of Leyte from the third district and officially filed his candidacy on October 4, 2024. This reconfiguration within Leyte's political arena adds further complexity to the allegations.
The allegations raised by Nuñez and the actions of the CIDG officers have captured public attention, highlighting potential abuse of power by those in positions of authority.
If proven true, these charges could have significant implications for the individuals involved, including legal consequences and damage to their reputations.
This situation serves as a critical reminder of the ongoing struggle against coercion and intimidation in the political realm of the Philippines.
The claims made by Nuñez, facilitated by Morilla’s representation, illustrate the potential risks faced by individuals when challenging powerful figures.
As the complaint progresses through the legal system, the future of those implicated remains uncertain.
The forthcoming responses from the accused parties will be essential in determining the next steps in this evolving case. The outcome may influence not just the individuals involved, but potentially the larger landscape of governance and justice in Leyte.
With these charges surfacing amid heightened political activity, it remains to be seen how this matter will unfold and what repercussions it may have for the political climate in the region.
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