The authorities are now hunting down the five armed men who forcibly entered the house of Catanduanes Congressman Cesar Sarmiento in the village of Ibong Sapa in Virac, Catanduanes on Saturday night.
Col. Paul Abay, Catanduanes’ provincial police director, said the raid occurred at around 9:30pm when Sarmiento was out campaigning, reported Philippine Star. Upon entering, the men handcuffed the caretakers Rey Vargas and John Tabios and a bystander, a tricycle driver named Antonio Barba.
The suspects, who allegedly wore military uniforms, barged into several rooms inside the house but didn’t hurt Congressman Sarmiento’s family. They allegedly fled the crime scene on a maroon-colored SUV, Bicol Standard reported.
According to a statement by Zsarita Sarmiento, Congressman Sarmiento’s daughter, she and her family hid in various places inside the house, which made it possible for them to avoid the armed men.
Addressing those behind the incident, she said that she and the rest of her family are not intimidated by what they have done.
Congressman Sarmiento, who is running for governor of Catanduanes, said that politics may have played a role in the incident. He said none of his family’s possessions were taken from the house, Manila Bulletin reported.
According to him, one of the indications that the incident is possibly related to politics was the removal of his campaign posters from certain areas of the province. The politician added that a man, whom he didn’t identify, has accused him of operating a shabu (meth) lab.
Congressman Sarmiento is calling on the police to immediately identify the people who harassed his family.
