Henry Teves’ aide accuses Siaton mayor of harassment after Senate hearing; Diaz refutes claims

An aide of former Negros Oriental governor Henry Pryde Teves has accused Siaton Mayor Fritz Diaz of harrassing him in a confrontation on Wednesday after the Senate hearing into the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

At the resumption of the probe Thursday, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who presides over the hearing, disclosed a letter from the legal counsel of Pastor Jerome Nalam asking the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee to sternly warn and reprimand Diaz over the incident to avoid future conflict inside the Senate premises.

In the letter, Nalam claimed that Diaz and his escorts approached him shortly after the termination of the hearing and he allegedly received “malicious imputations accompanied by inappropriate gestures” from Diaz—Degamo’s nephew.

Nalam, through his lawyer Rosel Erames, also asked for a copy of the CCTV footage inside the Tolentino hall where the alleged confrontation happened.

Diaz admitted that he approached Nalam but he said he did not harass Teves’ aide.

“The harassment is not true… I approached him, nag-abot kami, nakita ko siya parang lumuhod ako. Sinabi ko sa kanya ‘Napatay ninyo si gov pero ‘di ninyo talaga ako napatay. Di ninyo ako napatay, pastor,’ sabi ko sa kanya.  ‘Yung isang tao di ko kilala, naka-brown siya ‘yung sumigaw,” Diaz said.

Diaz was linking Nalam in the assassination of Degamo as he claimed that the get-away vehicle of the governor’s killers was used by Nalam two days before the killing happened. This allegation was from the testimony of the vice mayor of Sta. Catalina, Oriental, he said.

The Siaton mayor said he was not accompanied by any bodyguards, only the Degamo supporters.

But Nalam said Diaz was lying as he claimed that he expected the confrontation to escalate.

“Sinugod ako ni Mayor Fritz. Dinuro niya pa ako…Grabe 'yung harassment…Akala ko talagang magka-clash na kasi marami na 'yung mga sumabay sa grupo nila e,” Nalam said.

“Irresponsible action or gesture ng isang mayor tapos lumapit pa ang kapatid niya…talagang feeling ko parang noong nangyari 'yon hindi ako safe. Kasi si Mayor kung tutuusin 'yung backup niya sa Negros hindi bababa sa sampung backup. Ako doon isang driver lang. Kung nakaya niya na gawin dito sa loob ng Senate…puwede niyang gawin doon sa labas,” he added.

Dela Rosa then directed the provincial director of the Philippine National Police in Negros Oriental to provide escort to both camps, saying the provincial police chief will be accountable if they will be harmed.

“Ayaw kong may mangyaring masama because of this hearing. Nandito kayo para pakinggan natin hindi para magsakitan, hindi para mag-away. Kaya I admonish you, after this hearing wala na sana kayong contact, ‘wag kayo maglapit,” he said.

Further, the lawmaker directed the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms to conduct a proper investigation and increase their presence inside the committee hearing room during the breaks, suspensions, or adjournment of the hearing.

“Isa lang dito magsuntukan, magkagulo na ito. Mapapahiya tayo ang buong Senado dito pagka may gulong mangyayari dito sa loob ng ating building,” Dela Rosa said.

As both camps continue to accuse each other, Nalam asked the Senate panel to order a lifestyle check on Diaz and Degamo’s wife—Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo.

Dela Rosa said both mayors agreed to it.

Mayor Degamo then cut Dela Rosa short to also request a lifestyle check and checking of bank accounts of Rhilrose Antoinette Torres and Gaspar Torres.

Torres, who accused the Degamos of having unexplained wealth and ordering an attack on their house, agreed to Mayor Degamo’s request.

Dela Rosa said the Office of the Ombudsman is the appropriate body to conduct a lifestyle check on Diaz and Degamo as they are incumbent government officials while the National Bureau of  Investigation or the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group can do the same to the Torreses.

The Senate panel is investigating the spate of killings and attacks in Negros Oriental, including that of Governor Degamo.—AOL, GMA Integrated News