A 15-year-old boy from Barangay Vista Alegre, Bacolod City, said he was slapped by Vice Mayor Johnny Reosura of Murcia, Negros Occidental, on November 2.
The 15-year-old, whose name is being withheld for being a minor, and his two aunts went to the provincial Capitol in Bacolod City Thursday morning, November 9, and aired their complaint against the vice mayor before the media.
The boy said he was called to the house of the brother of Reosura near the Bacolod Golf and Country Club in Hacienda Binitin, Murcia, where he was confronted by the vice mayor about the use of brass knuckles, locally known as bichikorno, in a fight.
The brass knuckles were allegedly used in a fight of the 15-year-old and his cousin with the nephew of Reosura at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club earlier.
The nephew who was allegedly hit with the brass knuckles was injured.
The 15-year-old said he denied that he used the brass knuckles and the vice mayor told him that if he did not turn them over he would have him handcuffed and taken away.
When he turned over the brass knuckles, the vice mayor slapped him, and held his mouth and hair, the boy said.
The aunts of the boy said the vice mayor had no right to slap their nephew, they want justice for what he did.
One aunt said they went to Reosura’s place because they thought it was to settle the differences of the boys, she was shocked that the vice mayor suddenly slapped her nephew.
It would have been okay if he had just scolded the boy, but he had no right to hurt him, the aunt said.
Negros Occidental Board Member Andrew Montelibano, who was with the complainants at the Capitol on Thursday, said charges would be pursed against the vice mayor.
As a government official, he said it was his obligation to help the boy who was a victim of bullying and abuse of authority.
This should not be settled, a case should be pursued, he said.
“You did this, you face the consequences now”, was Montelibano’s message to the vice mayor.
Montelibano said his actions were not politically motivated, he was standing up for what was right.
Reosura denied that he slapped the boy, he said he only held his mouth.
He said the matter had already been settled but a politician approached the family of the boy and instructed the aunts what to do.
The politician is riding on the issue in an attempt to destroy his reputation in the municipality, Reosura said.
Reosura said his nephew had been hit on the head with the brass knuckles and the mother wants to pursue charges.
The vice mayor said if the family of the 15-year-old file a case against him he will face whatever it is.*