Mayor’s aide charged for vice mayor’s slay

By Raymund Catindig

JONES, Isabela -- A security consultant of the municipal mayor here was among four men charged for the murder of the vice mayor last June 19.

Seventy one year old retired Army Col. Reynaldo Tapia, admitted to journalists that he is a security consultant of Jones Mayor Leticia Sebastian.

The charges against Tapia and three others were filed Tuesday with the office of the Department of Justice in Ilagan City, Isabela.

Provincial police director Senior Supt. Amorsolodela Cruz said they have documents supporting charges against Tapia.

Dela Cruz said among the pieces of evidence they submitted to the police cybercrime laboratory were mobile phones seized from Tapia said to contain messages to Sebastian.

Dela Cruz said they would invite Sebastian to shed light on the matter. Sebastian was unavailable for comment.

Tapia and former Army Cpl. Michael Deocariza reportedly helped the assailants, who shot dead Vice Mayor Florante Raspado and Marc Anthony Agarin, escape.

Tapia and Deocariza were arrested at a checkpoint in Aglipay town in nearby Quirino province an hour after the killing that occurred at the Jones municipal hall.

Also charged was Victor Funtilara and another suspect who has yet to be identified.

The victims were at the session hall of the municipal building when the assailants, whose faces were covered with masks, shot them June 19.

Funtilara was arrested in Barangay Sinaoangan Sur in nearby San Agustin town hours after the killing.

The arresting team recovered a .45 caliber pistol and a sling bag containing two loaded magazines, a mobile phone, a wallet, a mask and a hat from the suspect, according to regional police director Chief Supt. ReinierIdio.

Funtilara, Tapia, 71, and Deocariza – were subjected to paraffin tests.

Idio created Special Investigation Task Group Raspado to handle the case.  –