‘Politician paid P2 M to have San Carlos mayor killed’

SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan – A politician paid P2 million to hired guns to kill San Carlos City Mayor Julian Resuello, a police officer said yesterday.

The police superintendent, who asked not to be named, told The STAR the Ilocos Region police received intelligence information that a huge amount of money was involved in the killing of Resuello, who was on his third and last term.

The police superintendent said police also gathered that the gun used in killing Resuello was the same gun used in the murder of Mapandan, Pangasinan Vice Mayor Alfredo Aquino more than a year ago.

The match was made after the gun used to kill Resuello was subjected to a ballistic test, he added.

The killing of Aquino like that of Resuello was politically motivated, the police superintendent said.

Amid these developments, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) joined yesterday the probe into the killing of Resuello.

Lawyer Dave Alunan, NBI Dagupan acting executive officer, said two witnesses to the killing will be placed under the government’s Witness Protection Program.

Two counts of murder and three counts of frustrated murder had been filed against suspect Angelito Soriano before the San Carlos City Prosecutor’s Office, he added.

Soriano is now under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Pangasinan.

Alunan said another suspect, Cesar de Guzman remains at large, along with two other unidentified suspects.

The NBI has also charged De Guzman with frustrated murder in another shooting incident last April 25 wherein the victims were Richard Palaganas and Dante dela Cruz, who are both supporters of Resuello, he added.

Meanwhile, Joseres Resuello, a son of the slain mayor filed yesterday his candidacy as a substitute candidate for vice mayor in the May 14 elections.

His brother, acting Mayor Julier Resuello is running for mayor of San Carlos City.

The 24-year-old Joseres, a Commerce graduate and known to friends as Bogs or Boknoy, carried his late father’s nickname "Jolly" in his certificate of candidacy.

He filed his COC under the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrat banner at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office here Thursday afternoon accompanied by his brothers, Julier and Provincial Board Member Jolly "JR" Resuello.

San Carlos City has been placed under Comelec control following the confirmation of Chairman Benjamin Abalos and five commissioners of the earlier recommendation made by Commissioner Romeo Brawner, who is in charge of the Ilocos Region.

On the other hand, three people, among them the alleged uncle of a mayoral candidate in San Carlos City were charged the other day in court with violating the Comelec gun ban after police seized from them unlicensed guns and ammunitions. – With Eva Visperas, Cesar Ramirez