Slain Abra mayor’s pals seek Arroyo’s assistance

BAGUIO CITY — Slain Tubo, Abra mayor Jose Segundo was laid to rest at a memorial park here Monday morning, and the 500-member Philippine Healers Circle, of which he was a member, asked President Arroyo to work on the early solution of his killing.

Rev. Alex Orbito, president of the PHC which he, along with Segundo and four other "magnetic healers" founded some 20 years ago, described the killing as a form of "terrorism."

Orbito urged the President and Philippine National Police chief Director General Leandro Mendoza to do all they can to solve the crime to give justice and peace to Segundo’s family.

The 61-year-old Segundo, a second-term mayor, was felled by a M-16 bullet last Dec. 27 while he was on his way to attend a wedding in Barangay Tubtuba in Tubo, a third-class municipality.

Police are looking at three angles to the killing: the possible involvement of the New People’s Army, politics and personal grudge.

Authorities are still facing a blank wall on the slaying although Chief Superintendent George Aliño, Cordillera police director, has created Task Force Segundo to look into the ambush.

Orbito, however, said he is confident that authorities will solve the killing soon. The NPA has not claimed responsibility for the killing.