MABALACAT, Pampanga – A nationally renowned singer-songwriter is now crying for justice at the municipal jail here after he was allegedly “framed-up” for frustrated murder raps.
Isagani Ibarra, 60, real name Siegfried T. Ranada, who wrote the folk songs Biyaheng Langit, Bilog Ang Buwan and Magulang among others as well as a number of collaboration with the popular folk singing group Asin, vehemently denied the charges which stemmed from a complaint filed by a certain Jimmy Flores, 54.
According to a police report, Flores was mauled by two unidentified suspects on orders of Ibarra on the night of May 11 during an alleged drinking session at Sitio Turbina in Barangay Tabun here.
The report said Flores was hit with a shovel in the back and attacked with a wooden stick by the suspects before he managed to escape.
In his affidavit, Flores claimed that he heard Ibarra shouting “Sige paluin nyo yan (Go ahead hit him)” and “Ibabaon kita sa ilog (I will bury you in the river)” while he was being attacked by two unidentified Badjaos.
However, the medical report indicated that the victim suffered only minor superficial injuries on his forearm. Barangay tanods identified as Angelito David and Julius Castillo, arrested Ibarra and brought him to the police station. The two barangay tanods also stood as witnesses of Flores in his sworn affidavit.
Ibarra claimed he was being framed by the suspects because he got the ire of barangay officials after he “adopted” some 207 Badjaos by allowing them to stay “on our ancestral land” in Sitio Turbina. The Badjaos were earlier evicted under the Abacan bridge in nearby Angeles City.
Ibarra said he adopted the Badjaos to return the favor they gave him when he was stranded in Boracay in 1991 at the height of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption.
Ibarra said he had an earlier altercation with Flores, whom he earlier evicted from their property, after his nipa hut was razed to the ground by still unidentified suspects.
He admitted shouting at Flores when the latter “gate crashed” into their “ritual drinking session” after having a story conference for a documentary film about the Badjao people.” But it was taken out of context,” Ibarra said.
As this developed, Flores reportedly signed an affidavit of desistance clearing Ibarra. But as of press time Ibarra continued to remain locked up at the municipal jail here.
In the meantime, Ibarra vowed to file charges against the persons who allegedly framed him including barangay officials of Tabun and nearby Dolores.
