P100-K bounty for arrest of Ilocos mayor’s killer

By Freddie G. Lazaro

LAOAG CITY -- The League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – Ilocos Norte Chapter raised a P100,000 reward for anyone who could provide pertinent information that will lead to the identification and arrest of the gunman in the brutal  killing of Marcos town Mayor Arsenio Agustin on June 3, 2017.

Agustin, 61 and Rusmar Valencia, 35, a backhoe operator were shot dead by a still unidentified suspect at an irrigation dam project site in Sitio Cabua-an, Barangay Mabuti, Marcos town.

Two other individuals, laborers Camilo Vasquez, 60, and Nolan Valencia, 18, were wounded in the attack.

Dingras Mayor Ergio Valenzuela LMP – Ilocos Norte Chapter president, said that the reward money was raised by the national and local LMP leadership.

Earlier, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee R. Marcos condemned the attack and ordered the law enforcement authorities to probe and arrest those behind the killing of Agustin, one of her close political allies.

“We condemn this heinous act.  We will spare no effort to find and punish the killers, said Marcos.

“I extend my prayers and sympathy to his family and friends, who have, over his time as mayor, become close to us,” added Marcos.

Meanwhile, Chief Insp. Dexter Corpuz, spokesperson of the Ilocos Norte police office, said a thorough probe on the incident is ongoing.