Mastermind, 7 guns-for-hire known in slay of PDEA agent, son

By Jerry Padilla

CANDON CITY – Lawmen have identified the mastermind and seven suspected guns-for-hire from Ilocos Sur and Abra who killed an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and his 16-year-old son here on Feb. 13.

PDEA Assistant Secretary Rodolfo Caisip and Col. Roberto Opeña, PDEA regional director, bared this to reporters in San Fernando City Tuesday saying police are now closing in on the suspects who were allegedly hired by the mastermiond, a prominent person, to kill agent Edward Gautani Sr. who was involved in monitoring illegal drug cases.

“Investigators have to double their time in working on the case to solve it as soon as possible. This is the price (Gautani had to pay) for doing his job right. Even his son was sacrificed,” Caisip said.

Gautani and his son, Edward Jr., were shot to death while having dinner along with four other family members at the resort of the PDEA agent’s mother.

Before the shooting, two men approached the Gautanis and ordered four bottles of beer.

When one of the family members left to get their order, one of the two pulled out a gun and shot Gautani Sr. at close range.

Edward Jr. came to his father’s rescue but was shot, too.

Caisip said the killing was work-related and that the mastermind is capable of paying guns-for-hire.

Opeña said a police team is now pursuing the suspects who would be rounded up as soon as an arrest warrant is issued for them.

“We already got their names. They are still in the area. There are strong leads linking them to the murder,” he said.

Opeña said Gautani was active in gathering intelligence information, which resulted to 15 successful anti-illegal drug operations.

“His job as a ‘case monitor’ was very sensitive. He was also in charge of counter-checking graft and corruption in illegal drug cases if there were government authorities or private individuals involved. He’s a big loss to the PDEA,” Opeña said.

Opeña and Caisip went to Candon Feb. 17 to attend the wake of the Gautanis who was buried Feb. 18.