Murdered Cagayan vice mayor’s widow: Mayor threatened my husband

By John Eric Mendoza 

MANILA — The widow of Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda on Monday said municipal mayor Bryan Dale Chan allegedly threatened people who filed cases against him, including her late husband.
    During the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, Elizabeth Alameda made the accusation which Chan categorically denied.
    Alameda said her husband raised his concerns against the local chief executive before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the town, while a concerned citizen filed a charge against the mayor in the Office of the Ombudsman.
    Chan, however, said he did not receive a copy of the complaint lodged at the Ombudsman.
    “Ang finile po ng asawa ko, si Vice Mayor Romel Alameda, ay sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan po. May concerned citizen sa Aparri din na nag-file ng same case sa Ombudsman. And contrary po sa sinabi ni mayor, merong, nabigyan po kami ng copy ng nai-file na case sa kanya,” Elizabeth said during the hearing.
    (My husband, Vice Mayor Romel Alameda, filed complaints before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, while a concerned citizen in Aparri filed the case with the Ombudsman. And contrary to what the mayor said, we were given copies of the complaints filed against him,)
    The widow also recalled that the municipal employees knew Chan’s threat.
    When asked by Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa if Chan threatened those who filed a case against him, she said: “Yes, your honor. Bale, in one of his meetings daw po sinabi niya sa harap ng mga employees na kapagka natanggal o na suspend siya sa posisyon niya is, babalikan daw niya yung mga may gawa ng kasong iyon.”
    (Yes, your honor. During one of his meetings, he said in front of his employees that he would get back to those who made that case once he gets removed or suspended from his position.)
    Dela Rosa then asked Chan to categorically deny the widow’s allegation, to which the mayor said:     “Yes sir, wala po akong sinabi sir.” (Yes, sir, I did not say anything like that.)
    Reports said the six gun-wielding assailants wore police uniforms and used a fake red plate for their getaway vehicle.
    The gunmen ambushed Alameda and his five companions— cousin John Duane Alameda, Abraham Ramos Jr., Ismael Nanay Sr., Alvin Abel, and Alexander delos Angeles—while on their way to the convention of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines in Pasay City on Feb. 19.