URBIZTONDO—President Benigno Aquino III flew into the province last June 13 to personally give his condolences to the family of slain Mayor Ernesto Balolong Jr., who is a fellow Liberal Party member and reportedly close to the country’s chief executive.

Aquino, in black polo shirt, first had a closed door meeting with the mayor’s wife Mirla, their son Councilor Volter and his wife Angela, and the mayor’s only daughter Zarena. The Balolong couple also has a five-year old son.

After the closed door meeting, the President proceeded to the site where Balolong, his police escort PO1 Eliseo Ulanday, and civilian Edmund Meneses were gunned down.

Tarpaulins calling for justice for Balolong were conspicuously hung around town with photos of the mayor sprawled on the ground, bloodied after the shooting.

Balolong denied his close alliance with the President, particularly after Malacañang lifted a suspension order imposed by the provincial council against him in an administrative case last year.

Last March, Balolong, who was serving his second term as mayor after being vice mayor and councilor, was again placed under preventive suspension by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in another administrative case but the Office of the President again issued a stay order.

Sources said prior to entering politics, Balolong worked as a finance officer for a company owned by the Aquino family.

During the President’s visit, political personalities who were present include Second District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, former fifth district Rep. Mark Cojuangco, Sta. Barbara Mayor Carlito Zaplan, Urdaneta City Mayor Amadeo Gregory Perez IV,  San Carlos City Mayor Julier Resuello, former Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino, LP spokesperson in Pangasinan; and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Chairman Cristino Naguiat Jr.

The town vice mayor, Martin Raul Sison, a known political nemesis of Balolong and who immediately assumed his post Monday as mayor, was conspicuously absent during the President’s visit.

The police have yet to establish the motive for the killing.

Earlier, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas ordered the creation of Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) “Balolong” with Senior Superintendent Benjamin Hulipas, director of PNP Region 1, Senior Superintendent Sterling Raymund Blanco, officer-in-charge provincial director of PNP Pangasinan, Crime Laboratory Office, Provincial Legal Service and the Urbiztondo Police Station to intensify the manhunt for the suspects in the killing.

Meanwhile, the Balolong family continued to decline any media interview but promised to speak up after the interment on June 18.—Tita Roces with report from PIA1-Pangasinan

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