SAN CARLOS CITY– A convoy of hundreds of motorcycles, jeepneys and private cars brought home on Tuesday the remains of Mayor Julian “Jolly” Resuello from Manila where he died in a hospital following Saturday’s shooting incident.

Thousands of supporters stood waiting to pay their final respects to the slain mayor who served the maximum three consecutive three-year terms and was running as vice mayor for the May 14 midterm election.

Old women wept and buried their teary faces on the shoulders of Jolly’s son, incumbent Vice Mayor Julier “Ayoy” Resuello who, in turn, is running for the mayoralty post.

Municipal employees hung a big black cloth in front of the city hall Monday morning, held an instant prayer rally, and lit candles at the spot where Resuello was shot.

The body of the mayor lies in state at their residence in Bugallon St. here.

The interment will be after the elections.

Among the first to condole with the Resuello family were political leaders of Pangasinan who were allies of Resuello in the administration’s Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats party and in the Biskeg na Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, former mayor Douglas Soriano, who is seeking to reclaim his old post against the young Resuello, issued a press statement expressing his sympathy to the bereaved family.

The Resuellos and the Sorianos were political enemies-turned-friends but political developments over the past two years have again strained their relations.

In his statement dated April 30, Soriano said, “My family and I are deeply saddened by the death of Mayor Julian Resuello. We are shocked that violence such as this could still happen in our midst despite everybody’s effort to maintain peace and order in our city amidst our preparations for the coming elections.”

“I consider this incident an assault on our democratic system. Violence has no place in a civilized society, much less during an electoral campaign and when the victims include an official of our city government,” he added.

Soriano supported and signed the covenant for honest, orderly and peaceful elections (HOPE) initiated by the police with support from the Catholic Church.

Resuello said he learned through media about Soriano’s words of condolence.

“Sana nga totoo yong sinasabi nila. Sana nga totoo yong pakikipag condole nila sa amin kasi napakasakit sa pamilya yong nangyari (I hope what they’re saying is true. I hope they’re sincere in condoling with us because what happened is really very tragic for our family),” Resuello said.

At the same time, Resuello called for sobriety among his townsfolk even as he urged the authorities to give justive to his father’s death.

“Ituloy natin ang laban. Bigyan natin ng hustisya ang pagpatay sa aking pinakamamahal na ama (Let’s continue the fight. Let’s give justice to the killing of my beloved father),” he said.

“We will continue the fight for good governance, we will continue the mission of my dear father, we will continue to bring progress to our beloved. It’s up to the people now to decide the kind of government they want,” he said.

The mayor and his bodyguard, Eulogio Martinez, were killed while seven others were wounded in the attack while the mayor was shaking hands with the crowd inside the auditorium for the coronation of Miss San Carlos City 2007.

Resuello said his father was very happy prior to the incident because of the huge crowd that came for the coronation night.

 Those wounded were SPO1 Jaime Almoite of the San Carlos City police station, Jonathan dela Cruz, 34, of  Mac Arthur St., another civilian aide, Alwin Fermin, 29, of Burgos St., a bystander, Paulo Bino, 14, bystander, all from this city,  Reyna Muñoz, nine, of Alapan, Imus, Cavite, Domingo Mamaril, 52, and Antonio Soriano, 38, of Diego Silang, Malasiqui.-LM and EVA

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