Mayor’s bodyguard is wanted gun-for-hire
WHO would have known in town that Bani mayor’s close-in bodyguard since 2013 was in fact the No. 5 most wanted man of Ilocos Norte?
No one, not even Mayor Mayor Gwen Palafox-Yamamoto, until her bodyguard figured in a minor vehicular accident and the police was confronted with the information that the mayor’s bodyguard is in fact wanted by the police in Ilocos Norte.
Arrested in Bani town on November 1 was Hadji Mendoza, 38, who was tagged as the principal suspect in the slaying of a judge and a police officer in that province. He was reportedly listed to be known as ” Hadji Alex Palafox” and Hadji Lopez Mendoza.”
Mayor Yamamoto denies they are related, and this was confirmed by her father who was not was not aware of being related to an “Alex Palafox.”
In a message sent to The PUNCH, Mayor Yamamoto vehemently denied knowing prior knowledge of Mendoza having a warrant of arrest for murder.
She said Mendoza was hired as an employee of at the municipality of Bani when he applied and complied with all requirements for employment, together with clearances from different agencies.
Ms. Yamamoto denounced the malicious insinuations by her political detractors that she was harboring a fugitive.
Bani Police chief, P/Sr. Inspector Christopher Natnat also confirmed that the arrest of Hadji Mendoza was not connected to any wrongdoing in the town.
Mendoza was arrested when he presented himself to the police station to effect an amicable settlement when his new motorcycle was sideswiped by a pick-up truck in Bani.
In the process, the police database showed a picture of Hadji Mendoza having a P110,000 reward for his arrest as a wanted gun-for-hire.
Mendoza was arrested right then and there, and when he was frisked, a Cal. 45 pistol with one live ammunition, and one plastic sachet of suspected shabu were found in his possession. He was served the warrant of arrest for murder in Criminal Case No. 474718 issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Manuel Angel Jr. of Branch 65 in Ilocos Norte.
He reportedly fled to Pangasinan from Ilocos Norte when he was wanted for the murder of Judge Ariston Rubio on Oct, 31, 2001, and of Senior Inspector Jimmy Ulep.
He was also allegedly involved in the drug trade in that province.
Mendoza was eventually endorsed by the Pangasinan police to the members of the Intelligence Branch of Ilocos Norte Provincial Police Office sent by P/Senior Supt. Director Albert Ocon, police provincial director.
His case is unbailable.
The suspect is now detained at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Jail in Laoag City. (Leonardo Micua/Jun Velasco)
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