‘Unfulfilled obligations’ eyed in San Carlos lawyer’s murder

BY JERRY PADILLA

SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan – The task force probing the gunslaying of a lawyer here on Aug. 27 is zeroing on “unfulfilled obligations” between the victim and his clients as the most probable motive.

Senior Supt. Isagani Nerez, provincial police director and overall commanding officer of the task force, said in Lingayen, Pangasinan, that investigators believe a feud between victim, lawyer Conrado Soriano Jr., 54, and his clients might be the primary motive behind the killing.

Nerez, however, added that they were not discounting other possible angles.

Although Soriano was also the legal counsel of defeated mayoralty candidates Douglas Soriano and his younger brother, lawyer Gallant Soriano, Nerez said politics was a remote motive in the killing.

Popularly known as “Pacpac” and a counsel of defeated mayoralty candidate Douglas Soriano, the victim was gunned down in front of the San Carlos College along Mabini Street.

‘Pacpac’s’ younger brother, also a lawyer, also ran but lost in the Pangasinan third district last elections.

Police said the victim was rushed to Virgen Milagrosa Hospital here but was declared dead on arrival.

Nerez said people should not readily conclude that Soriano’s death was related to politics.

“He was not a politician and was not a candidate in the last elections so it’s unfair at this time to say his killing was politically motivated,” Nerez said.

He said they are also looking fro other motives in Soriano’s killing, especially in relation to his work as he was also the lawyer of some of those arrested for cattle rustling.

Nerez said they will explore all possible motives, including personal matters to solve killing.