Ozamiz radioman's ambush staged?

MANILA, Philippines - Misamis Occidental Rep. Loreto Leo Ocampos yesterday alleged that the ambush of a local radio block-timer in Ozamiz City on Wednesday was faked and meant to link him to the incident.

Ocampos, chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments, was referring to the incident where Cosme Maestrado, commentator of radio station dzOC, shot it out with five unidentified armed men on motorcycles while he was on his way aboard his car to his program before dawn Wednesday.

The 42-year-old Maestrado survived the ambush by lowering his backrest and firing back at his attackers using his caliber .45 pistol, police said.

Ocampos, who reportedly has been the subject of Maestrado’s scathing attacks in his radio program, alleged that the ambush “was faked and stage-managed by the Kuratong Baleleng criminal gang.”

“Maestrado is the spokesperson of the dreaded Kuratong. He is also the spokesman of Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez and former mayor Reynaldo ‘Aldong’ Parojinog, who are facing corruption and plunder cases I filed before the Office of the Ombudsman,” Ocampos alleged in a statement sent to The STAR.

“Definitely, the faked ambush was the handiwork of the Kuratong Baleleng. It was a cheap propaganda gimmick orchestrated by the gang to discredit those who are fighting to stop their criminal activities,” he said.

He alleged that the Parojinogs founded the Kuratong Baleleng and “the gang is still engaging in illegal drug trafficking and bank robberies, the latest of which happened in Cebu, resulting in the death of five persons, including two bank security guards.”

“The Parojinogs are also charged with plundering hundreds of millions of pesos of public funds in the city hall of Ozamiz City (and) the cases are currently heard by the Ombudsman,” the administration lawmaker said.

Ocampos said he has been vocal and active in his fight against the Kuratong Baleleng “for the crimes they have committed and for bringing a social stigma and shame on the residents of Ozamiz City and Misamis Occidental.”

Chief Superintendent Jufel Adriatico, Northern Mindanao police director, said Maestrado will face charges for carrying his licensed .45 pistol outside his residence despite lacking a permit to do so.

“Yes, he will be charged... and we will be recommending the cancellation of the license of his gun for violating provisions on the possession of firearms,” Adriatico said in a phone interview.

Adriatico said the pistol Maestrado used in supposedly defending himself from the gunmen has been turned over to police custody for ballistic examination.

Despite the supposed attempt on the radioman’s life, Adriatico said Maestrado no longer need his own firearm since two unformed policemen have been assigned to secure him round-the-clock.

“We are providing him with police escort to make sure he is out of harm’s way,” he said.

Adriatico described as unfortunate though the allegation that his affiliation with a politician in the region has influenced the investigation into the incident. Maestrado reportedly pointed to the politician as the possible mastermind in the attack against him.

“Well, it’s unfortunate to hear such a remark (being biased against Maestrado). I am a police regional director and I maintain that I am very professional. In fact, I have ordered a thorough investigation on the case,” he said.

Adriatico said he has instructed the Misamis Occidental police director and the Ozamiz City police chief to submit the results of their investigation after a week.

“Impartial and thorough investigation is underway to ferret out the truth if the ambush was real or stage-managed... Our investigators are leaving no stone unturned on this case. That’s the only way to find out the truth,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ocampos also spoke on the allegations that he was behind moves to convert Mt. Malindang into alienable and disposable land.

He said the bill filed in Congress refers only to all private lands within the municipalities of Conception and Don Victoriano, which are within the national park and not the entire park.

Maestrado has criticized the putting up of a private resort in the heart of the Malindang forest reserve and moves in the House of Representatives for the conversion of Mt. Malindang, a declared national forest reserve, into alienable and disposable land.

Maestrado has also been hitting at police officials for the alleged issuance of permits to carry firearms to dozens of civilian bodyguards of a politician. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe