LINGAYEN-Eight men have been charged for the murder of Agno Mayor Arthur Cabantac, including a barangay chairman, one tanod, the alleged gunman and five John Does.

The murder case was filed by Task Force Cabantac, the special group formed to specifically look into the mayor’s gunslaying, at the Prosecutor’s Office in Burgos based mainly on testimonies of four witnesses who identified the suspects.

Those facing prosecution are Jorge Saulo, the alleged gunman, Barangay Chairman Rodrigo Miranda, Chief Tanod Gener Sibinario, both of Barangay Sto. Tomas, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija and five still unidentified conspirators.

Meanwhile, Municipal Councilor Catalino Bundal II who has denied any involvement in Cabantac’s murder, has expressed fear for his own safety and security.

In a letter sent to members of the media, Bundal said the text messages being passed around naming him as the contact person of the suspects are “baseless and false and merely hearsays created by my political opponents or those trying to sow intrigues between him and the slain mayor who was not my partymate.”

He maintained that he kept a good working relationship with the late mayor and that he is ready to face any investigation as well as help in solving the case.

Suspicions are being raised based on the fact that Bundal’s wife is from the same place as the suspects and Bundal’s military background.

Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, police provincial director, said they have not pronounced anything implicating Bundal but the latter might feel he is being suspected and so has decided to preempt the police.

Nerez did say the five John Does include politicians, businessmen and a policeman and expressed confidence they will be able to gather enough evidence against them.

“What is still lacking is who is the master mind, who agitated them to commit the crime,” Nerez said of the suspects who were allegedly paid P2 million.

Cabantac was gunned down on the evening of August 2 while he was playing mahjong with some friends at a neighbor’s house at the corner of Zamora and Gomez Streets, Poblacion East, Agno.

After several days, a resident of Barangay Sto. Tomas, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija voluntarily appeared before the Office of Pangasinan Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and revealed the alleged perpetrators and provided the description of the three suspects in the six member-group. Three other witnesses from Agno positively identified the perpetrators. #

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments