Mayor’s aide faces charges over broom attack

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Criminal complaints for slight physical injuries and unjust vexation were filed Thursday, July 9, before the Iloilo City Prosecutor’s Office against Jonas Bellosillo, chief of staff of Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu, over the alleged assault of a woman using a broom handle.

The complaints were filed by the woman, identified only by the alias “Julie,” after barangay reconciliation proceedings failed to produce a settlement between the parties.

According to the complainant’s legal counsel, Atty. Danielle Naciongayo-Robles, the conciliation proceedings ended June 28 without an agreement.

A certificate to file action was issued July 3, allowing the complainant to elevate the case to the Iloilo City Prosecutor’s Office.

Robles said her client chose to pursue the case to seek justice.

“The complainant is not willing to settle it at the barangay level. What she is after is her dignity from what happened to her. She really wants justice,” she said.

Robles said that, based on the barangay proceedings, Julie consistently refused to enter into a settlement despite several attempts to resolve the dispute through mediation.

Robles also said that, according to her client, Bellosillo did not make any offer of settlement.

She added that even if an offer had been made, Julie would not have accepted it.

The mediation, which began June 7, was conducted before the Lupong Tagapamayapa of Barangay Simon Ledesma in Jaro District.

Julie currently resides in Barangay Tabuc Suba, also in Jaro, but is a registered voter of Barangay Simon Ledesma, where Bellosillo previously served as barangay captain.

Under Sections 409(a) and 412(a) of Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, disputes involving parties residing in the same barangay must first undergo mediation before the Lupong Tagapamayapa before a case may be filed in court or before the prosecutor’s office.

The case stemmed from an altercation in the early hours of May 17 at a boarding house in Barangay Maria Cristina, Jaro, where Bellosillo allegedly struck Julie and several of her companions with a broom handle.

Julie earlier claimed she sustained bruises on her back, left arm, and left leg.

A medico-legal examination reportedly indicated she suffered soft tissue injuries allegedly resulting from the assault.

Robles said the unjust vexation complaint was based on Bellosillo’s alleged repeated shouting, cursing, and verbal abuse directed at Julie and her companions during the confrontation.

“Because of the cursing and the shouting towards them, the complainant and her colleagues felt fear and intimidation,” she said.

Robles said other individuals present during the incident, including a minor, decided not to file complaints due to fear.

“We cannot force them. It was their decision. It was the complainant who took the courage to file a case,” she said.

She said they have yet to determine whether the other individuals will testify as witnesses.

Robles said separate complaints may be filed if the other individuals later decide to pursue legal action based on their respective circumstances.

Bellosillo previously acknowledged confronting the group, saying they were making excessive noise while drinking liquor before dawn.

He maintained that his actions were prompted by the disturbance caused by the complainant and her companions.

Under court rules, prosecutors will evaluate the evidence and the respondent’s counter-affidavit to determine whether probable cause exists to file the criminal charges in court.