Last night on 7NEWS Port Loyola Area Rep. Anthony "Boots" Martinez said he was wronged when a police officer punched him during Friday's protest in front of the National Assembly building. Opposition Leader Dean Barrow also wrote a testy letter to the COMPOL demanding an apology. Well, tonight it appears the Police Department is taking the complaint seriously as they today launched a formal probe into the incident.
Since Friday we have seen the video images replayed showing a plain clothes officer identified as John Flores punching "Boots" during the scuffle on the Assembly steps. But for more proof, today 7NEWS _obtained a still picture which shows the officer either choking boots, or powerfully restraining him at the neck. Boots confirmed to us that tomorrow morning he will pick his aggressor out of an ID parade in Belmopan. Boots says he has gotten an assurance from the investigating officer Assistant Superintendent Robert Mariano Jr. that his case will be dealt with before Friday's House meeting. The investigation also includes two senior officers, James Magdaleno and Eduardo Wade, who Boots claims later denied him entry to the House chambers. After Friday's incidents Martinez got three stitches and today he told us he is interested in pursuing criminal charges against all involved. He noted that Ombudsman Paul Todriguez is assisting in the investigation.
Of course, that sets the stage for what may be another contentious day in the capital on Friday. Despite its walkout last week, the Opposition will participate in the debate. And to add even greater drama to the proceedings, those in the Mark Espat and Cordel Hyde camps have indicated to us that after meeting with their committees and constituents, the two backbenchers appear ready to publicly oppose the Prime Minister's budget which calls for a $90 million increase in tax collection. If they do vote against the budget, or even abstain, it would make parliamentary history and likely set in motion a dramatic succession of political aftershocks. We stress though that those aftershocks would not include a crisis in governance, because even if they do decide to vote against the budget or abstain it would not block its passage thanks to the government's overwhelming majority.
