Several employees of the Camarines Sur provincial government have sought the criminal prosecution of Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., a town mayor and several others for allegedly assaulting workers and caused disruption of construction clearing operations at the Naga City airport last year.
The criminal complaints were filed before the Naga City prosecution office of the Department of Justice (DOJ) by nine members of the Sagip Kalikasan Task Force (SKTF) of the Camarines Sur provincial government and a member of the Camarines Sur Civil Security Unit (CSCSU).
The complainants specifically charged Andaya, Pili town Mayor Tomas Bongalonta and six unnamed armed bodyguards of the congressman of attempted homicide, grave threats, grave coercion and disturbance to public order.
The complainants alleged that Andaya, accompanied by his armed bodyguards and by Bongalonta, had assaulted, threatened and harassed them last April 18, 2018, when the congressman went to the Naga airport expansion project site in an attempt to stop clearing operations for the airport expansion project, which is one of the key infrastructure initiatives of the Duterte administration for the Bicol region.
CSCSU member Ruel Abajero, one of the complainants, accused Andaya of strangling him at a police precinct until he had almost ran out of breath, while the congressman was threatening to kill him.
Andaya’s assault was recorded on video, which has since then gone viral on social media.
He said in his complaint that he was only able to break free from Andaya’s grip when other people came to his aid. But even after that, Andaya continued to threaten and insult him.
Abajero also named Bongalonta in his complaint for leading Andaya to the precinct and for failing to stop the congressman from assaulting him.
SKTF members Roselito Costales, Ben-hur Pio Ortiz, Uldarico Dazo, Leo Moises, Anghelo Refran, Lito Sumpay, Anna Macarubbo and Ryan Herrera filed charges of robbery against Andaya for seizing their handheld radios, mobile phones and tablets and a backpack containing various items with the help of his armed bodyguards.
Bongalonta and Andaya’s six armed bodyguards were included in the complaint for aiding the congressman in committing his alleged criminal acts.