Cops eye Fajardo gang in P’sinan mayor’s slay

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – Police are looking into the possibility that four persons, alleged members of the Fajardo crime gang, arrested in a raid in Laguna last Thursday may be linked to the murder of Urbiztondo Mayor Ernesto Balolong Jr. and two others on June 7.

This link may be confirmed by ballistics tests and cross-matching of firearms seized from the suspects and bullet shells gathered at the crime scene, Police Chief Inspector Lucrisio Rodrigiza, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief in Pangasinan, told The STAR yesterday.

He said they are also looking for witnesses in Balolong’s murder who can identify the arrested suspects based on their pictures. 

Police officers served two search warrants issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 Judge Thelma Bunye-Medina against George Fajardo – also known as Lorenzo Fajardo – and Ricardo Rueda, both residents of Barangay Macabling, Sta. Rosa, Laguna at around 3 a.m. on Sept. 18.

Seized from Fajardo were a .45 caliber pistol, a Glock 19 9mm pistol, one .25 caliber pistol, one M4 Bushmaster and assorted magazines and ammunition.

Confiscated from Rueda were two .45 caliber pistols, a .22 caliber rifle, a .30 caliber carbine, assorted magazines and ammunition and about two kilograms of shabu, among others.

Pablo Javier of Barangay Biclat, San Miguel, Bulacan; Nolito Garfil of Morsia, Bacolod City and Estrella Lueles of Macabling, Sta. Rosa, Laguna were also arrested.

Balolong, who was on his third term, was shot dead on June 7 on the eve of his son’s wedding, which also coincided with his 25th wedding anniversary, in a parking lot at the reception venue a few meters from his residence in Poblacion, Urbiztondo.

His police escort, Police Officer 1 Eliseo Ulanday, and supermarket employee Edmund Meneses were also killed while three others were wounded.