Ilocos police chief sacked for killing of barangay chairman: Dingras mayor, 7 others charged with murder

By Mar T. Supnad and Teddy Molina

LAOAG CITY- Police filed murder and attempted multiple murder charges against the lady mayor here, including the president of the Association of Barangay Captains and six others for the killing of a barangay chairwoman and wounding of six others in Dingras town last Dec. 28.

Senior Supt. Benjamin Lusad, provincial police director, said charged were Dingras mayor Marineth Gamboa, ABC president Leandro Nanac, his brother Lolito Roger Gamboa (said to be a relative of the mayor), Jonathan Bagamaspad, Ireneo Baptista, Johnny Villanueva and Albert Balbas.

Lusad said the suspects are also facing charges of frustrated murder and assault upon a person in authority.

Their case is not bailable but since police filed their cases on “regular filing.” It takes time before a warrant of arrest could be issued against them if the prosecutor finds probable cause for their indictment.

Police based their case on the testimonies of 10 witnesses on the ambush that killed Lanas barangay chairman and NP councilor bet Jo-en Dieg.

The wounded were identified as SPO1 Cesar Sabado and Joel Rosqueta, security escort and driver of Castro, respectively; Sangguniang Bayan member Jose Mari Genaro Albano; PO1 Joel Natividad; a certain Gaudencio Teodoro and one Fernando Sebastian.

Last Dec. 28, the four-vehicle convoy of Dr. Robert Castro and barangay chairman Joeffrey Ponce Saguid was on the way from a Christmas program in Barangay Bagut where Castro was the guest of honor when they were suddenly blocked and fired upon by unidentified suspects.

Azares said that a gunman had been arrested and that the police are now looking into the involvement of the arrested suspect if he was one of the gunmen who waylaid the victims.

Meanwhile, Ferdinand Ignacio, the mayor’s lawyer said that his client is ready to face the charges adding that she is not surprised by the development saying she had been accustomed to having the book thrown at her in the past.

This, developed as the leadership of the Philippine National Police based in Camp Crame relieved Monday Lusad as provincial police chief and designated Senior. Supt. Jojo Gentiles as officer-in- charge of the Ilocos Norte provincial police office.

“I was surprised about my sudden relief, although there was an ambush but we were able to solve it,” said Lusad in telephone interview with this reporter.

But members of the media here who described the relief of Lusad as a great loss to the province, said his sudden relief was related to politics since Lusad is close to Gov. Michael Keon who is supporting administration candidate Gibo Teodoro while Rep. Bongbong Marcos is supporting Manuel Villar for president.

Last Jan. 7, Villar personally visited the wake of the slain barangay chair where he vowed to seek immediate justice to the victim, an NP candidate for councilor.

“It was the PNP headquarters in Crame that sought the relief of Lusad,” said Chief Supt. Constante D. Azares., Jr. Region 1 police director.