Margot: Don’t involve hubby, BOPK in Barandog ambush

CEBU City mayoral candidate Margarita “Margot” Osmeña denied that her husband, former mayor Tomas Osmeña, nor her group, Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, were involved in the ambush of Lt. Col. Chuck Barandog and his wife, STL Party-list aspirant Yvonne Cania on Sunday, May 1, 2022.In a press conference on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, Osmeña said while her husband was at odds with Barandog in the past, her husband and their group wouldn’t resort to violence just to get even.Osmeña added that involving their names in the ambush is a “desperate measure for desperate people.”“Who are we now to be able to do that? Even at the time when Tommy was mayor… he seemed to have no control over the police. What more now?” she said.During the 2019 elections, Tomas accused Barandog of harassing his supporters during the campaign period.The former mayor also said Barandog was responsible for killing two tanods and a female supporter in Barangay Lusaran while the police official’s unit, the Cebu City Mobile Force Company, were serving a search warrant in February 2019.No suspect yetIn a related development, members of special task group created to solve the ambush on Barandog and his wife admitted they still have no idea who’s behind the crime three days after the incident.Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla, deputy director for operation of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said on Wednesday, May 4 that members of the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) tasked to investigate the ambush have yet to identify any suspect or person of interest as they are still gathering more evidence.As of Tuesday, May 3, Barandog remained in critical condition but was conscious.Parilla said they were just waiting for the family to release the medical bulletin for Barandog and his wife.On Sunday evening, May 1, Barandog was driving a white pickup truck with Cania and a police escort when they were ambushed by two motorcycle-riding gunmen at the intersection of St. Pope John Paul III Ave. and F. Cabahug St. in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.Barandog sustained 11 gunshot wounds, while his wife was hit in the left portion of her ribs and thigh but was declared in stable condition. (IRT, AYB / TPT)