By Mar T. Supnad
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan- An alleged mayor's bodyguard tagged in the attempted murder of a top Commission on Elections official on Jan. 6 was arrested a few hours after the shooting incident in Sta. Maria town, police said.
Chief Supt. Constante D. Azares, Jr., Region 1 police director, said members of the Special Investigation Task Group “Villalba,” earlier formed to probe the shooting Thursday in Sta. Maria, Pangasinan of the Comelec official, arrested Eusebio Ventura, who will be charged with frustrated murder after he was identified as assailant by the victim.
Police Supt. Michael Nicolas, head of SITG “Villalba,” said the victim, Juanito Villalba, in a statement, disclosed that he recognized the face of his assailant as that of a certain “Ventura,” the husband of one Ofelia Madiam.
In a follow-up operation, the policemen able to invited the suspect to Sta. Maria Police Station for questioning.
During the investigation, he identified himself as Eusebio Batawag Ventura, 43, a resident of Barangay San Patricio of Sta. Maria town.
It was learned that Ventura is a security escort of one of the mayoralty candidates in said town.
Ventura voluntarily submitted himself for paraffin test at the Crime Laboratory Office in Urdaneta City.
He remains under the custody of the Sta. Maria Police Station.
Meanwhile, Villalba is still confined at the Sacred Heart Hospital, also in Urdaneta City, but is already in stable condition.
Villalba sustained a lone gunshot wound in the lower back portion of his body after he was allegedly shot by the suspects riding in tandem on a motorcycle at around 5 p.m. on Jan. 6.
Supt. Nicolas said they were due to file a case for frustrated murder against Ventura.
General Azares expressed satisfaction over the positive development of the case, even as he ordered SITG “Villalba” to dig deeper in determining the real motive for the shooting and to exert effort in finding witnesses to corroborate the statement of the victim.
SITG “Villalba” has implemented round-the-clock security for the victim and limited visiting hours to ensure his safety.
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