Albayalde orders full probe on La Union mayor’s slay

By Freddie Lazaro and Erwin Beleo

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — Philippine national Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde has ordered thorough probe to identify the suspects in the gunslaying of Sudipen town mayor Alexander Boquing and two others in an ambush incident in Barangay Cadapli, Bangar town on Monday night.

Mayor Boquing’s wife, Vice Mayor Wendy Joy was wounded during the incident and she is now in stable condition at Lorma Medical Center in San Fernando City, La Union where she was rushed right after the ambush.

Albayalde said special investigation task group Boquing was created to ensure in-depth probe for immediate identification of the suspects and motive of the gunslaying of Mayor Boquing and his police escort PO2 Rolando Juanbe and his driver Boni Depdepen, a resident here of Barangay Castro.

Mayor Buquing shielded and saved his wife Wendy Joy when they were ambushed at the Bangar-Castro provincial road in Barangay Cadapli, witnesses said.

The witnesses, who were in the vicinity of the ambush site said Mayor Buquing, who succumbed to several gunshot wounds, shielded and embraced his wife as the assailants fired at the victims, who were aboard a Toyota pickup.

Sudipen Councilor Melvin Macusi, in a statement, said the municipality was never known for violent incidents, even during an election period and condemned the attack on the Buquings.

“We are in mourning, who would have thought that a good mayor who has never been involved in violence and illegal activities would end up being killed,” Macusi said.

Macusi added that if Wendy decides to run for mayor in place of her late husband, they will support her.

Prior to the attack, Mayor Buquing visited the wake of a municipal department head in Barangay Ippet.

The PNP Task Group is eyeing five suspects in the slaying of Sudipen Mayor Alexander Buquing.

But La Union police chief PIO PCI Silverio Ordinado Jr. clarified that they have no person of interest yet though they suspect that all gunshots originated from a single firearm based on the bullet slugs recovered from the crime scene.

“More or less mga hindi bababa sa lima yung suspects. Lima katao, pero base kasi sa bala, iyong mga cartridge case na nakuha, ang findings kasi ng crime lab natin is iisa lang iyong pinang galingan, iyong baril…iisa lang ang baril na ginamit. Definitely iisang gunman lang bumaril doon,” Ordinado said.

Authorities do not discount the angle of illegal drugs in the case, although Sudipen Police OIC PInsp. Juan Casem Jr. confirmed that Mayor Buquing was not included in the PNP’s narcolist and the municipality has already been declared drug free in April this year.

Other potential angles that the PNP are investigating include business, politics and personal reasons that may have led to the murder of the Mayor.

The PNP chief also called the witnesses to come out and to help in the investigation of the ambush.

In the initial investigation, the ambush happened at about 6:40 p.m.

Mayor Boquing and his wife together with their police escort were onboard a Toyota Hi-Lux colored black with plate number AEZ 114 when they were fired upon by unidentified suspects while they were on their way home in Barangay Castro.

Police said the unidentified suspects have used M16 Armalite rifles during the ambush.

Witnesses said the suspects reportedly fled the crime scene onboard a white pickup vehicle after the shooting incident.

All occupants of the vehicle were seriously hurt after the shooting incident.

Boquing and PO2 Juanbe, a resident of New Poblacion, Burgos, La Union, were rushed to Ilocos Sur District Hospital in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur but both were declared dead on arrival.

Wendy Joy and Depdepen, were rushed to Lorma Medical Center but Depdepen was also declared dead on arrival.

Senior Supt. Ricardo Layug, Jr., La Union police director said Buquing was declared dead-on-arrival at the Southern Ilocos Sur District Hospital in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur due to gunshot wounds on his head and body.

Vice Mayor Wendy Joy Buquing and Depdepen were rushed to the Lorma Medical Center in San Fernando City, La Union for treatment.

However, Depdepen died while the vice mayor is still being treated in the same hospital.

Layug said the victims were on their way home in Barangay Castro in Sudipen from a wake in Barangay Ippet when they were ambushed.

Police are looking at politics and construction business also as motives for the killing. Another possible motive is the Amburayan River project.

Buquing was supposed to seek re-election in the 2019 mid-term elections.