MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/30 November) – His alleged attackers have turned the table on a broadcaster based in Maramag, Bukidnon who claimed to have been ambushed by them near Dayo Subdivision in Valencia City Saturday.
In an affidavit, Rene Saligumba and Pablito Malang said it was Randy Makiputin, an anchor at Radyo Abante in Maramag who fired a gun at them around 7 p.m. on Saturday after his motorcycle crashed upon hitting Saligumba’s bag.
Saligumba and Malang filed their affidavit before Valencia City Police Office OIC Supt.
Adonis Lazo Mutya.
Arthur Sapanghari, chair of the Bukidnon chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, gave a copy of the affidavit to MindaNews Monday. Sapanghari who is based in Valencia City reported Makiputin’s claim over radio station DXDB.
Makiputin claimed he was ambushed last Saturday but police said he lied about his wound at the hospital where he sought treatment.
“After the incident, Makiputin went to the hospital and lied to the hospital staff about being ambushed,” Bukidnon police director Sr. Supt. Nerio Bermudo earlier said.
Saligumba said Makiputin, who was thrown off after bumping into his bag, drew a pistol and fired at them but missed. He and his companion were about to board a motorela when the incident happened.
Saligumba said the broadcaster appeared to be drunk. He said he knew of the suspect’s identity from the police.
He further narrated in the affidavit signed on Sunday that they immediately rode the motorela and told the driver to evade the suspect and go straight to the bus terminal where they were heading.
When they arrived in Maramag, Saligumba and Malang told their employer Eden Magsayo about the incident. She advised them to blotter it.
Two witnesses, both students of the San Agustin Institute of Technology, also said in a separate affidavit filed on Saturday before Mutya that Makiputin shot Saligumba but missed.
The two minors were on their way to the school’s reunion event when Saligumba and Malang hailed the same motorela they were riding. They said they saw Makiputin fall upon bumping his motorcycle into Saligumba’s bag and that afterwards he drew his pistol and fired at the two men.
Bukidnon police director Sr. Supt. Nerio Bermudo told MindaNews Monday they will submit a complaint today against Makiputin but that it would be up to the prosecutor’s office to determine the appropriate charges to be filed.
Makiputin is connected with Radyo Abante in Maramag where he anchors the program Super Gitik (Super Tickle) which focuses on music and jokes.
Roxanne Mabao, administrative officer of Radyo Abante said Makiputin is not known to be hard-hitting, although he claimed to have received death threats in 2008 and earlier this year. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)
