N Ecija mayor on murder case: Political harassment

CUYAPO, Nueva Ecija – Mayor Amado “Jong” Corpuz Jr. accused his detractors from the Lakas-CMD of engaging in political harassment for orchestrating the filing of a criminal complaint for murder against him before the Department of Justice in connection with the cold-blooded gunslaying of the former secretary of the Sangguniang Bayan. Corpuz dismissed as politically motivated the charges that he ordered the killing of Angelito Espinosa, ex-Sangguniang Bayan secretary on June 4. “They are out to unseat me. This is orchestrated by my political enemies,” he said.

He urged Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali to keep his hands off the murder case which he claimed was set up by the latter’s partymates at the Lakas-CMD. “I hope that Gov. Umali will steer clear of this case which is the handiwork of his men from the Lakas-CMD.”

Corpuz issued a statement after a tricycle driver who supposedly witnessed the killing of Espinosa, hinted the mayor ordered the victim’s killing and even reportedly gave the firearm used in the killing to the suspect, Carlito Samonte, the mayor’s bodyguard.

Espinosa was shot dead following a heated altercation with Samonte at the municipal compound the morning of June 4. Samonte, also known as Kuratong, tried to escape but was collared by Cuyapo police chief Supt. Danilo Fernando and two of his men following a brief chase. Police reports said the argument was triggered when Espinosa stared “maliciously” at Samonte who confronted him. Espinosa tried to pull a gun from his waist but was beaten to the draw by Samonte.

Espinosa died from two gunshot wounds. Police later recovered the two firearms owned by Samonte and the victim, a Colt caliber .45 pistol and a 9 mm which were later both found to be unlicensed by the Firearms and Explosives Division based in Camp Crame.

A criminal complaint was filed against Samonte before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office which was later forwarded to the Regional Trial Court. Corpuz was not included in the original complaint but was later named in a supplemental affidavit by the alleged witness, tricycle driver Alexander Lozano.

The Provincial Prosecutor’s Office has set a preliminary investigation of the case next week. In his supplemental affidavit filed with the DOJ, Lozano said he was on his way to the office of Vice Mayor John Diego when upon reaching the mayor’s office, he saw Corpuz fuming mad and cursing a certain Lito while talking to Samonte.

Later, he quoted the mayor as telling Samonte “P__ Lito ‘yan, birahin mo (That P___ Lito, take him),” while allegedly handing over a stainless gun to Samonte. Lozano stated in his affidavit that Corpuz must be referring to Espinosa who, he said, earned Corpuz’s ire for helping municipal employees lodge a complaint against the mayor for nepotism and other charges. He said he told Espinosa to be careful because the mayor was after him.

Moments later, Espinosa was shot dead.

Lozano said he did not link Corpuz to the killing at first because he feared for his life. Corpuz said the killing of Espinosa was the offshoot of a personal matter which should not be tolerated to involve an innocent third person like him.

He said the incident was a spur-of-the-moment thing induced by heated argument, negating treachery nor any premeditated killing.

Corpuz said Lozano’s affidavit is “biased, is an afterthought, full of improbabilities and conjectures.”

He said that Espinosa never committed any wrongdoing against him to warrant his ordering him killed.

He also denied giving the supposed stainless gun to Samonte which was allegedly used in the killing as evidenced by the fact that the gun recovered from the suspect was a Cal. 45 pistol. -- MG