Kalinga tribe elders’ help sought in Diasen slay case

BY DEXTER A SEE

TABUK, Kalinga – Police here have requested the assistance of tribal elders to facilitate the surrender of the 18-year-old suspect in the murder of Kalinga Vice Gov. RommelDiasen, who was a leading candidate for the gubernatorial post in the province.

Chief Supt. Raul Gonzales, regional police director in the Cordillera, said his men have asked tribal elders in Kalinga to convince the suspect, Joel Nelod, to surrender to authorities and air his side on the case.

Police have filed murder charges against the suspect, and preliminary hearing was conducted by a court.

Gonzales said police have approached tribal leaders in the province to ask the suspect to surrender and give justice to the family of the slain official.

While the policemen are negotiating with tribal elders, manhunt for the suspect is being conducted.

Diasen was shot to death while delivering a campaign speech on Black Saturday in barangay Magnao, Tabuk.

He was shot six times in the head and different parts of the body with a Cal. 45 pistol and died while being taken to a hospital here.

Police have earlier ruled out politics as the motive in the killing of the gubernatorial candidate.
The suspect was allegedly asked by a fellow tribesman to kill Diasen to avenge the killing of Judge Milnar Lammawin some two years ago.

Lammawin, a member of Magnao tribe, was killed in an ambush allegedly perpetrated by enemies of the tribe to which Diasen belongs.

Diasen was linked to the murder of Lammawin, but the case did not proper in court due to lack of evidence.

Lammawin is the cousin of Diasen’s wife.

Various sectors in Kalinga denounced the brutal murder of Diasen and feared that a tribal war among several tribes might erupt soon.