Gun pointing charges vs ex-lawmaker’s son dismissed

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho on Friday dismissed the case against a man accused of pointing a handgun at two men he accused of beating up his father, former lawmaker Christopher Leon Guerrero, at a poker establishment in Garapan.

Camacho dismissed without prejudice the amended information charging Hermanny Palacios Santos with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, upon the Office of the Attorney General’s request.

Dismiss without prejudice means the government may re-file the case in the future.

Assistant attorney general Betsy Weintraub moved to dismiss the case. She did not elaborate.

Assistant public defender Matthew Meyer, counsel for Santos, did not object to the government’s motion.

Police said the two alleged victims stated they assisted Leon Guerrero, who vomited and blacked out after playing poker, but his son, Santos, 38, instead accused them of beating up his father.

Santos was arrested last Dec. 6.

According to police detective Myron O. Laniyo, Peter Cabrera Camacho and Froilan Mendiola Camacho called for police assistance at 99 Cents Supermarket in Garapan last Dec. 6 at 5:13am.

Peter Camacho told police that he and Froilan Camacho were at the U-Luck Poker in Garapan last Dec. 4 where they saw Leon Guerrero whom they knew as “Superman” playing poker since 6pm that day.

Leon Guerrero is a former House representative and a retired police officer.

Every time Leon Guerrero would withdraw his money from the poker machine, he would give Peter and Froilan Camacho some money.

At 3am Leon Guerrero got up and was walking out when he started vomiting.

Leon Guerrero blacked out and fell forward, hitting his head on the flowerbed, according to Peter and Froilan Camacho.

Peter and Froilan Camacho helped Leon Guerrero and called for an ambulance. Leon Guerrero was then transported to the hospital.

Peter Camacho stated that on Sunday at 5am, he and Froilan Camacho were driving past Miha housing #M-16 when they saw Santos’ vehicle at the area.

The two decided to stop by, met Santos and asked him how his father, Leon Guerrero, was doing.

Santos went over to the passenger side of the vehicle, where Peter Camacho was sitting and allegedly pointed the gun at his head.

Santos was cussing and accusing the Camachos of beating up his father.

Peter Camacho told Santos he had it all wrong because they never beat up Leon Guerrero and instead were helping the latter and even carried him into an ambulance.

Santos walked over to the driver’s side, where he opened the door and allegedly also pointed the gun at Froilan Camacho.

Froilan Camacho said after they convinced him to review the surveillance camera, Santos got up on his vehicle.

Peter and Froilan Camacho later drove to 99 Cents Supermarket in Garapan, where they called for police assistance.

Police officers checked the back of the defendant’s house, where they recovered a .32 revolver handgun with three bullets in the cylinder.