Murder charges filed vs coop president's killers: Witnesses implicate mayor in Ilocos slay

By Teddy Molina and Jun Guiang

LAOAG CITY – An Ilocos Norte town mayor was implicated by witnesses in affidavits submitted to police in the killing of the president of the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative last Sept. 4.

This developed as the INEC has put up a P500,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the mastermind in the killing of its president, Lorenzo Rey Ruiz, in Currimao town.

Lawyer Jesus Nalupta Sr., INEC board member, said they decided to offer a reward to encourage witnesses to reveal knowledge of the incident.

“We want the slay case resolved as soon as possible. That’s why we are giving P500,000 reward to informants,” Nalupta said in a radio interview.

As early as last year, the witnesses alleged that Dingras Mayor Marynette Romero Gamboa has been vocal about her plans to make her mother, Elsie Romero, run against Ruiz in the INEC elections next month.

Gamboa allegedly wanted to gain control both of the municipal office and the profitable electric cooperative.

Mrs. Romero, however, was disqualified to run as Dingras’ representative to the INEC board because she failed to attend two INEC general assemblies, a basic requirement for a candidate.

Gamboa has allegedly questioned the requirement but board officials argued the guideline does not only cover INEC but all 119 electric cooperatives nationwide.

The Dingras mayor has reportedly issued several verbal attacks against Ruiz in local television and radio interviews.

The slain INEC president, however, refused to comment on Gamboa’s tirades. Witnesses alleged Gamboa repeatedly boasted about her wealth and connections to high-ranking politicians, police and military officials and private armies to intimidate her opponents.

They said Gamboa allegedly perceived Ruiz as a big threat to her post as he was being groomed by various groups to run for mayor in the 2010 elections.

Jonathan Bagamaspad, an INEC employee who was tagged as the one who contacted Ruiz’s gunmen, was allegedly a known supporter of Gamboa and has openly campaigned against Ruiz.

Bagamaspad was reportedly facing an administrative case for malversation of INEC funds.

One of the four suspects was killed, two (including the triggerman) have been captured, while one remains at large.

Police filed murder and attempted murder charges last week before the Ilocos Norte prosecutor’s office against four men and two unidentified cohorts in connection with the slaying of Ruiz.

The suspected killers were earlier identified by eyewitnesses. Named in the charge sheet were Saturnino Pagaling, the alleged triggerman; Victor Cahodoy, Noel Aurellano, who are all from Pagsanajan in Badoc, Ilocos Norte; Bagamaspad, an INEC employee, of Suyo in Dingras, Ilocos Norte; and two John Does.

Provincial police director Senior Supt. Benjamin Lusad told newsmen the suspects took refuge inside a farm in Currimao town after the slay incident.

This developed as reports said Bagamaspad’s co-accused were allegedly guns for hire operating in the Ilocos region.

The same reports said the Ruiz-led INEC board was about to wind up its investigation on Bagamaspad’s case after which the board will promulgate a decision.

The slain INEC president, it was learned, wished to get over the case which involved a large amount of money before his term expires late this month and run for reelection next month as Dingras’ INEC board representative.

An outstanding cooperative leader, Ruiz was expected to win back handily his board seat and eventually regain the leadership of the INEC Board.

The victim’s daughter Cheeko who is a deskperson of The Star, earlier said her father had received death threats through phone calls and text messages but he was not telling his family about it.

She learned that her father was for some time security alert but relaxed later on when the phoned-in threats subsided.

His assassins saw this as the opportunity to go for the kill, a local observer noted.
The family of Ruiz said they hope the identification of suspects would lead to the unmasking of the mastermind.

“We hope the identification of the suspects will lead to the mastermind. My father was kind-hearted and what I know was that he was up for re-election next month as our town representative (Dingras) to the INEC,” said Cheeko.

Cheeko’s brother, JC Bello Ruiz, hand, is a reporter of the Manila Bulletin. She said their family was still in a state of shock.

Her father knew there were plans against his life, based on the intelligence reports from the police confirming a plot to kill him and that is why he had been extra cautious.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa earlier ordered the Ilocos regional police to closely coordinate with the Ruiz family in its investigation.

Police said Ruiz died from bullet wounds in the head, neck and chest.

Three other INEC officers – board directors John Que, Rey Lazo and Tony Foronda – were with Ruiz when the incident happened.

Members of police Task Force Ruiz have arrested suspects Pagalog and Cajudoy, both residents of Barangay Pagsanjan, Badoc town, following a hot pursuit operation.

In a report, Lusad said witnesses positively identified the two as involved in the killing. The third suspect, Noel Aureliano, of Barangay Alay, Badoc town, remains at large.

An earlier report said Ruiz had just arrived at the INEC substation compound in Barangay Lang-ayan, Currimao town to attend a board meeting when two motorcycle-riding men shot him while two others, also on board a motorcycle, provided backup.

Police said a security aide of Ruiz was able to return fire, hitting one of the suspects, Juanito Ancheta, 42, who later died in the hospital.