Raps filed vs Ilocos mayor over former mayor’s slay

By Raymund Catindig 

MARCOS, Ilocos Norte – Police filed criminal charges on Monday against Mayor Jessie Ermitanio of this town and four other men in connection with the killing of former mayor Arsenio Agustin last June 3.

Ermitanio as well as Bernie Lazo, Hardy dela Paz, Jose Dato and Renato Esta were charged with double murder, double frustrated murder and attempted murder before the provincial prosecutor’s office.

Agustin had just inspected an irrigation project in Barangay Mabuti when he was fatally shot.

Backhoe operator Mark Valencia was also killed while two other workers were wounded in the attack.

Witnesses said Lazo, Dela Paz, Dato and Esta attacked Agustin and the workers.

The alleged hitman, Bernie Lazo, alias Alex Vergara, identified Ermitanio as the person who paid him P150,000 to kill Agustin.   

Ermitanio, who was vice mayor at the time of the incident, replaced Agustin.

Ermitanio was arrested after a raid on his house in Barangay Lydia last month yielded a cache of firearms.