COMMOTION. Jojami Lei Alcid, the wife of Laoag council candidate Bryan Alcid (right), narrates in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon (April 26, 2022) how the group of former Laoag City mayor Roger Farinas barged into their private property. Jojima and two others were hurt in the commotion. (PNA photo by Leilani Adriano)
LAOAG CITY – Barely two weeks before the May 9 elections, three people were hurt when the group of Roger Fariñas, the former city mayor and brother of gubernatorial candidate Rodolfo Fariñas, barged on Tuesday morning into a private property owned by Bryan Alcid, a candidate for Laoag councilor.
As shown in trending videos posted on Facebook, Alcid's wife Jojami was hit by Roger's son, Raffy. At a press conference later in the afternoon, the Alcid family said two more individuals were hurt during the commotion, including a guard on duty.
Jojami appeared during the press conference with a bandage on her left arm. "I was pushed, kicked and strangled from behind," she said.
Another son of Roger, Roger John, is running for reelection in the city council.
Hours later, another video surfaced of another commotion between Roger and city vice mayor Vicentito Lazo, who is running for mayor under Team Marcos, where Alcid is included.
While on a house-to-house campaign, Lazo said he was called by Bryan about the incident and tried his best to reach Alcid's headquarters in Raraburan village here.
But while on his way, he spotted the getaway vehicle of Fariñas, and followed him while waiting for the police to flag down the vehicle. Roger and Lazo had a heated argument when the police arrived and they were brought to the city police station for questioning.
While still in a state of shock, the Alcid family bared during the press conference that they plan to file multiple charges against the Fariñas camp.
"I never thought that election could be as dangerous as this. It is an eye-opener for me. I fear for myself and my daughter. I don’t know what will happen but the election campaign must go on. We will continue to fight,” said Jojami, adding that she was both emotionally and physically hurt during the incident.
She added that the group of men who barged into their home grabbed some documents without their permission.
According to Lazo, the latest incident was a "desperate move for somebody who already foresees that they will lose in the election.”
He appealed to their political opponents to remain calm and respect the voice of the people. "This is just an election that features a democratic process. [This] should not result in committing a crime,” said Lazo.
As of this posting, the Fariñas camp has yet to make an official statement on the matter, but said they would issue one on Wednesday.
Last April 19, the Fariñas family, led by gubernatorial candidate Rodolfo, sought the help of the Commission on Elections Provincial Office as he complained of being allegedly harassed by members of the Philippine National Police who established a checkpoint near his residence in Barangay Barit here.
Provincial Director Julius Suriben of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office, however, opined that the PNP was just doing their duty as law enforcers to intensify police visibility and security operation during the election period. (PNA)
