P-Noy orders: Probe slay of Pangasinan town mayor

By Jojo Riñoza and Liezel Basa Iñigo

URBIZTONDO, Pangasinan — All permits to carry firearms in Pangasinan were suspended by the Philippine National Police last week, hours after President Aquino visited the family of slain Urbiztondo Mayor Ernesto Balolong Jr. here and the site where his Liberal partymate was gunned down last June 7.

It was through a directive issued by Chief Supt. Roman A. Felix, Police Regional Office 1, that Senior Supt. Sterling Blanco, officer-in-charge of the Police Provincial Office, suspended all permits to carry firearms outside residence (PTCFORs).

Municipal and city police offices in the entire province began to intensify security measures to implement the gun ban by conducting checkpoints and monitoring public places for violators.

Blanco said the memorandum is a security measure in the wake of the broad daylight shooting that killed Balolong; his bodyguard, PO1 Eliseo Ulanday; and municipal employee Edmund Meneses.

During his visit, Aquino met with police officials and instructed them to speed up the investigation into who was behind the killing of his Liberal partymate.

Accompanied by former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco, Urdaneta City Mayor Amadeo Perez, Jr. and other mayors of Pangasinan, Aquino not only offered Balolong’s family his condolences but visited the crime scene amid the pouring rain.

Blanco said the President wants the identification of the mastermind soon and told PPO officials to maintain peace and order and ensure that such a gruesome crime is not repeated.

Special Investigation Task Force Balolong arrested two suspects: Eduardo de Guzman, alias “Gading” 65, a farmer from Salomague Norte; and Marito Femin, 48, a radiator mechanic from Pangaspasan, both of Bugallon town.

They were nabbed in their hideout as the two were about to leave and probably go on hiding.

The slain mayor’s relatives earlier told the media they know who Balolong was at grave odds with.

“Malaking tao sa probinsiya at lalabas din ang lahat kung sino ang may kagagawan nito… alam namin matagal nang kaaway ito at nagbabanta (This is an influential person in the province and it will all be revealed… we know of the grudge and the threats.),” he said.

Senior Supt. Sterling Raymund Blanco, officer-in-charge of the provincial police, said Aquino issued Aquino inspected the area where the mayor PO1Ulanday and supermarket employee Meneses, were shot dead.

“That’s why we are looking carefully at the motive for the killing, either political, business or in his personal dealings,” Blanco said.

He said the President was very much concerned about the case and told them he does not want the tension to escalate.

“For him, the peace and order in Pangasinan is paramount,” Blanco said adding Aquino condemned the killing and described it as a brazen act.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima was here June 14 to meet local police officials in a closed-door conference.

Aquino talked to the bereaved family of Balolong and the police, Blanco said.

The President asked the police about the progress of the case and the actions they have taken to solve it.

Blanco said members of the special investigation task group formed to solve the Balolong killing are doing their best to dig deeper into the case.