Suspects in Infanta mayor murder arrested

By December 26, 2012Headlines, News

DASOL—The police have arrested two suspects involved in the killing of Infanta Mayor Ruperto Martinez last December 15, at a checkpoint last Monday.

Recently relieved police senior superintendent Mariano Luis Versoza Jr., then still officer-in-charge of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO) and the commander of the Special Investigation Task Group Martinez, identified the suspects as Richard Manuel and Ricardo Legarda, both from General Mariano Alvarez in Cavite.

The suspects did not carry any identification cards and denied the allegations but witnesses positively identified Manuel as the gunman and Legarda as the driver in the killing of Martinez.

Two gunmen riding in tandem entered the gate of Martinez’ residence in barangay Cato, Infanta at around 2:45 in the afternoon of December 15 and shot him twice on the chest and neck.

Martinez died on the spot.

Versoza said checkpoints in all exit areas in Infanta and nearby towns were immediately set up after the police received the report of the shooting.

“We had not seen anyone riding in tandem that fitted the description of the killers based on the eyewitnesses’ testimonies, so we thought that they decided to stay in the hotels or inns either in Infanta or in Dasol since the police blocked all exit points,” Versoza said.

The SITG intelligence team spotted the suspects at a beach resort in Barangay Macalang, Dasol where they checked in on board a motorcycle without plate number.

On December 17, the two male suspects were intercepted by the Dasol police after a brief chase as the suspects tried to escape the drag net.

A murder case has been filed against the suspects.

MINING PIER

But despite the arrests, Versoza said they will continue to investigate to identify the mastermind.

“The case is solved but not closed because we have yet to identify the motive and the persons behind the killing of Mayor Martinez,” Versoza said in a press conference just hours before his relief from post.

Vice Mayor Virgilio Vallarta, who has taken over as mayor, said the murder is possibly linked to the mining port in the town.

The mining pier here is used to transport nickel from nearby Zambales.

A few hours before Martinez was gunned down, a protest rally of about 6000 residents was held in the town.

Vallarta said the municipality will continue the operation of the mining port, citing that the pier contributes Php500,000 monthly to the local coffer and used for development projects in the town.

Martinez was on his third term as mayor and was running for vice mayor in the May 2013 election with Vallarta as his running mate for mayor.

HOTSPOT

Verzosa said the quick apprehension of the suspects show “that ‘yong mga tao natin sa PPO is exerting all efforts to maintain peace and order and to give justice to everyone.”

The incident, however, has listed Infanta as an “area of concern” in the May 2013 election.

Others in the hotspot list are the towns of Agno, Urbiztondo, Sta. Maria, San Manuel, Rosales, Malasique and Balungao and the cities of San Carlos, Dagupan, and Alaminos.

MAYORS’ LEAGUE

Meanwhile, the Mayors League in Pangasinan headed by its President Noel Nacar of Dasol condemned the killing of their colleague and at the same time expressed support to the slain mayor’s family.

The group held an emergency meeting evening of December 15 following the incident with 26 mayors in attendance.

Nacar said Martinez told him about having received death threats, including a tomb with his name carved on it.

Nakakalungkot ang nangyari sa isang mayor na napakatahimik at napakasimple, walang kaaway,” Nacar said.

At the same time, Nacar urged all Pangasinenses to continue promoting the province despite all the issues currently battering Pangasinan, including the jueteng payola issue involving the governor.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) also formally expressed its condolences to the bereaved family of Martinez through Resolution No. 1630-2012.

“Mayor Martinez has left a precious legacy of love to his family, dedication and professionalism to his colleagues, kindness to his friends and relatives and admiration and respect to his kabaleyans,” the resolution reads.–Hilda M. Austria, Johanne R. Macob, and Eva Visperas

SUBTITUTE

Meanwhile, the son of the slain mayor, Richard Martinez, 38, a businessman, will be the substitute candidate for vice mayor.

Martinez filed his certificate of candidacy under the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Mayor Martinez’s remains will be interred on Dec. 26 at the town cemetery.—Eva Visperas

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