MORE NEWS, PAMPANGA

Charges filed against 5 suspects in Koreans’ slay
By George Trillo

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga –Five suspects in the killing of three Korean nationals were charged with multiple murder, rape and robbery before the Olongapo City Prosecutor’s Office Aug. 1.

Senior Supt. Abelardo Villacorta, Olongapo City police director, said the suspects facing charges in court were Dario Basalla, alias Bogs, 34, of Sitio Botolan, Iram Resettlement, New Cabalan, Olongapo City; Willy Visoa, 32, of Barangay Mambog, Botolan, Zambales; Ronilo Cada, alias Kuts, 49, Barangay Lipaydingin, Iba, Zambales; Tony Baclay alias Tonying and Kati Pamilyang, both Aetas, and residents of Iram Resettlement Center in Barangay Cabalan, Olongapo City.

Villacorta said the suspects were positively identified by lone witness Catalina Versoza who saw them scaling the house fence at the back of the victims’ residence around 11 p.m. on July 26. The witness who is residing within the neighborhood also heard a female screaming for help at around 12 p.m.

He said on July 30, Basalla, Visoa and Cada were arrested at Iram Ressettlement and Mabayuhan, both in Olongapo City while Baclay and Pamil­yang were arrested Friday morning in a mountainous area of Iram.

Villacorta also said Task Force Baek is gathering more pieces of evidence and collating information that will further strengthen the case against the five arrested suspects.

The suspects are believed to be responsible in the killing of Chang Suk, 54; his daughter Yo Sun, 35; and Sun’s daughter Hanuel Beak, 10; in their residence at Iram Resettlement Center, Barangay Cabalan, Olongapo City.

The victims were found dead in their bedroom by Sun’s son Sangkheol Beak, 11, who survived the attack. Yo Sun and her daughter were naked and believed raped before they were killed by the suspects. The suspects took with them undetermined cash from the victims’ house.

Basala was arrested for illegal possession of Cal .45 pistol while Visoa was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for attempted estafa issued by the Olongapo municipal court.

Cada was arrested for illegal possession of Cal.38 revolver and had standing warrant of arrest for murder issued by the municipal trial court in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur, according to Villacorta.

Meanwhile, Yo Sun’s husband, Henry Choi, a former contractor of Hanjin Heavy Equipment Industry Inc., arrived on Wednesdasy and brought the bodies of the victims to Marikina City for cremation. On Thursday he returned to Korea with his son Sangkheol, who survived the gruesome incident.

Ex-Pampanga mayor seeks cop protection
By George Trillo

MEXICO, Pampanga – A former mayor of this town has sought police protection saying gunmen who have killed at least six of his political supporters are now after him, Former mayor Ernesto Punzalan said that he relayed his request for security to Chief Supt. Errol Pan, Central Luzon police director, 10 days ago, after another supporter, Danilo Lalu, was shot dead in Barangay Lagundi here July 13.
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What’s unusual is that three of the latest victims were not only identified with me. They also had filed various administrative and criminal cases against Tumang,” Punzalan said, referring to incumbent mayor Teddy Tumang. He said all six victims were attacked on the street by gunmen using Cal. 45 pistols and on board motorcycles.

“There is uniformity in executing the killing,” he said.

Last week, former mayor Tirso Lacanilao of Apalit, Pampanga was also gunned down in Calumpit, Bulacan.

Punzalan had been mayor of this town until he lost to Tumang in the 2004 polls, and again in last year’s elections. In February last year, Punzalan said his supporter retired Army Col. Wilfredo Munar was shot dead while strolling with his grandson near his home in Barangay San Jose. PO2 Arsenio Gopez, operations chief of the local police, confirmed the three latest murder victims were known supporters of Punzalan.

“In the case of Munar, some suspects were identified as members of the Rebolusyonaryong Hukbo ng Bayan, a breakaway group of the New People, Army. But they have remained at large,” Gopez said. Newsmen called up Tumang at his home but was told he was not available.