GMA help sought on La Union slays

SAN FERNANDO, La Union- The provincial peace and order council and the provincial government headed by Gov. Manuel Ortega passed a resolution on August 10 seeking the intervention of President Arroyo to help expedite the investigation into all unsolved political killings in the province.

The provincial board headed by Vice Gov. Martin de Guzman also passed a separate resolution requesting for Ms Arroyo’s assistance.

Ortega said the recent killings and bombings in the province show that “there are certain individuals who have devious designs to undermine our efforts toward fulfilling our mandate.”

They made the move following the recent killing of Felicidad Picar, municipal treasurer of Bauang town-the 15th victim of unsolved killings in La Union.

Police had filed murder charges on August 7 against the suspected killer of Bauang’s woman treasurer.

No bail was recommended for suspect, Rogelio Ordona, who was arrested three hours after shooting municipal treasurer Picar in the neck with a Cal.45 pistol while she was waiting for a ride to the town hall morning on August 6.

Supt. Pedro Obaldo, Bauang police chief earlier said the case was considered solved, but they wre still exerting efforts to unmask the mastermind, if there was any.

Ordona is now detained under tight security at the Bauang municipal jail.

Obaldo said the murder case was immediately filed because witnesses were “very cooperative and told what they saw without hesitation.”

Sources said Ordona was also cooperating with investigators and that he might be convinced to tell why he killed Picar and who ordered him to do so.

There were speculations politics might have something to do with the killing because Picar chaired the municipal board of canvassers in the May 14 elections.

Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil, Ilocos regional police director, said Ordona’s cellular phone, which he allegedly lost while policemen were chasing him in a forested area in Barangay Urayong, might hold the clue on who masterminded the gunslaying.

“That’s very important,” said Bataoil. “I hope we can recover it because the gunman, after he shot the victim, was seen texting or calling somebody, probably a back-up who failed to arrive to rescue him.”

Bataoil said suspect, Ordona was positively identified as the one who gunned down Picar while she was waiting for a ride along the national highway in Barangay Santiago in the town.

He said Ordona tested positive for gunpowder residue from a Cal.45 pistol.
Bataoil said Ordona might be convinced later on to reveal the person who ordered him to kill Picar.

Bataoil said somebody might be behind Picar’s killing and the recent explosions in La Union.

“This killing could not have been done casually without somebody orchestrating it,” he said.

Bataoil said he ordered the La Union police to ensure tight security for Ordona because “if something happens to him, we might not be able to uncover more information that are very vital in identifying other suspects.”