P’sinan governor, solon tagged in mayor’s slay

DAGUPAN CITY --- After being linked to jueteng, Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. is facing another criminal investigation as the alleged mastermind in the killing of Infanta town Mayor Ruperto Martinez in December last year.

In a complaint filed with the Department of Justice Tuesday, the National Bureau of Investigation sought the indictment of Espino including Pangasinan first district Rep. Jesus Celeste and their associate, Jaime Aquino, for murder.

The NBI cited the testimony of a teenager who claimed “personal knowledge” of the killing.

The 16-year-old witness told investigators he was present during a meeting at a beach resort in Bolinao town in November 2011 when Espino allegedly planned the killing.

In his affidavit, the witness said he heard the governor saying that Martinez should be killed to prevent him from linking Espino to a supposed mining project anomaly in the province.

In the same meeting, the witness said Celeste introduced a certain “Kardo” who was tasked to kill the mayor.

The witness said he saw Celeste meet Kardo again a day after Martinez was gunned down.

“I heard Congressman Celeste telling Kardo to go to Infanta to check if Martinez is already dead or still alive,” the witness said.

He identified Kardo as Ricardo Legarda, one of the two suspects arrested by police.

He said the other suspect is Richard Manuel, a bodyguard of Celeste.

The witness has been placed under the witness protection program.

He told NBI probers he was aware of the earlier murders of barangay kagawad Jovencia Gasmin and Bayambang Councilor Nato Sabangan.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the DOJ would conduct a preliminary investigation into the complaint.

Meanwhile, Rep. Celeste Wednesday said he did not expect the NBI would give credence to the testimony of what his lawyers dismissed as a “procured” witness on the murder charge filed against him and Gov. Espino Jr. the other day before the DOJ on the gunslaying of Mayor Martinez last Dec. 15.

Celeste said the slain mayor was his family’s long-time political ally and he even asked the NBI to conduct a parallel probe when he was slain.

Celeste and his younger brother, former first district congressman Arthur Celeste, said they found the case “absolutely ridiculous,” adding that somebody could have maneuvered to drag the incumbent congressman and Espino to the killing.

The Celestes said Martinez was a long-time political ally and that it was the former congressman who pushed Martinez to run for mayor.

Rep. Celeste said it was he who wrote the NBI in Dagupan City to do a parallel investigation into Martinez’s killing, and now he found himself being charged for it.

Martinez, who filed his candidacy for vice mayor in the May elections after having been elected for three consecutive terms as mayor, was gunned down in his residential compound in Infanta town.

The two suspected gunmen were arrested two days after the slay and were charged in court.

Police said the killing could be linked to politics and the construction of a port for nickel being hauled from nearby Zambales province.

Martinez’s wife Crisanta, who joined the interview with her two sons and daughter-in-law, appealed to the political rivals of the Celestes to “stop using my husband’s killing in politics.”

For her part, Martinez’s daughter-in-law Jennifer recalled how the Celestes helped them, especially after her father-in-law was killed.

“We don’t believe what they say (that the congressman and the governor) were behind the killing,” she said.

“We were really surprised. It’s far from reality,” she said in Filipino.

Jaime Aquino, publisher of a local paper and father of the 16-year-old witness in the murder case, belied reports that his son knew Rep. Celeste or Espino.

Aquino said his son is not a credible witness and the NBI is not also credible in its investigation. “I’m sure my son is only being dictated upon,” he said.

He added his son was twice jailed in Baguio City for theft and had stopped schooling. He said it was on Nov. 1 last year that he last saw his son.

Aquino, who also came to ex-congressman Celeste’s residence here, said he and his wife would file in court a petition for habeas corpus asking the NBI or the DOJ to produce his son.

He also belied reports he is not in good terms with his son but admitted he is not living with him, as he is under the care of his wife.

Aquino was also named respondent in the murder case.

Meanwhile, provincial administrator Rafael Baraan, speaking in behalf of Espino, said, “We have not received a copy of the complaint and therefore we have no basis for making any statement at this time.”

Lawyers Art Amon and Joseph Segundera, Rep. Celeste’s legal counsels, said their client also has yet to receive a copy of the complaint, adding though they are ready to file the necessary counter-charges against the congressman’s accusers.

“This witness is so unbelievable. It was reported he is also a witness in two other killings in Alcala and Bayambang towns. He is always there, lo and behold. He is prolific,” Segundera said.

He added: “A minor is being used to trivialize the killing of a mayor to advance a political agenda. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know the motive for the filing of the case.”