SAN ISIDRO, Leyte- The family of Remedio ‘Bebot’ Veloso, a mayoralty candidate of this town, decried the manner of the local police in treating them as the suspects in the killing of the town’s administrator.
According to Veloso’s elder brother, Emmanuel, the local police joined by members of the Philippine Army, searched their house located in Barangay Paril without any search warrant issued by a court just after the killing incident happened.
To recall, the town administrator, Levi Mabini, was shot dead last May 8 in Barangay Capiñahan after a still unidentified armed men strafed the house of Mayor Susan Ang.
Ang is seeking for another term with Remedio Veloso, running under the UNA (United Nationalist Alliance), as her main opponent for the post.
Based on a police report, the suspects on the killing of Mabini were seen to have entered the compound of the Velosos reason why they went there and conducted their search operation.
Emmanuel Veloso also claimed that the police and the Army blocked their way and asked them not to go out from their compound.
“They directed us not to go out from our property where they conducted their search operation even they were not armed with a search warrant,” he said.
“We are of course disappointed with their actions. Just because my brother is running against the mayor, they will treat us as the suspects,” Veloso added.
Veloso serves as the campaign manager of mayoralty bet Remedio Veloso.
The brothers insisted that they were innocent and have nothing to do with the killing of Mabini.
It was learned that the police and the Army were not able to found the alleged suspects or any evidence that could link them to the killing of Mabini.
Veloso said that the incident made them fear of their lives and they are contemplating of filing legal actions against the police and the Army.
The local police declined to issue any statement on their search on the Veloso property saying it’s the National Bureau of Investigation which will conduct further probe over the incident.
(RYAN GABRIEL ARCENAS)
