Police probing possible link in slays of 2 Bauang execs
Police are looking into a possible connection in the killings of the municipal treasurer and the municipal election officer of Bauang, La Union.
Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil, Ilocos regional police director, said there appears to be a pattern in the murder of municipal treasurer Felicidad Picar last Aug. 5 and the killing of election officer III Filemon Asperin Jr. on Jan. 12, 2006.
“We are looking into a possible connection because as you can see (the crimes were committed) in the same place and with the same motive – politics,” he said.
Bataoil said Picar had just come out of her house in Barangay Santiago, Bauang on her way to work at the town hall at around
“Ordoña even claimed that he was just about to rob the victim,” he said.
Bataoil said Ordoña was also implicated in the killing of a school principal in early 2006 and in the slay attempt on an official of Agoo town, also in La Union.
He said probers were looking at politics as the motive since Picar had received death threats apparently in connection with her being a member of the board of canvassers in the May 14 elections.
Asperin, on the other hand, was gunned down in front of the provincial office of the Commission on Elections on
Police later filed murder charges against La Union second district Rep. Tomas Dumpit Sr., his children retired Army Lt. Col. Tomas “Butch” Dumpit Jr. and Tess Dumpit-Michelena, Vice Mayor Clyde Crispino of Caba town, Dominador Ali Rentuma, Ares Alvarez Mato, Armen Mato, SPO1 Eduardo Banay, and Renator Batoon.
Rentuma confessed to be the driver of the getaway motorcycle, and Ares Mato, the triggerman. The two both hail from Polomolok,
In a related development, Superintendent Pedro Obaldo Jr., Bauang police chief, belied reports that they had tortured Ordoña into owning up to Picar’s gunslaying.
“We are open to any investigation. We did not commit any violation and we respect his rights,” Obaldo said, reacting to the allegation of Ordoña’s wife, Maria Cris, who has filed charges against the Bauang police with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
Mrs. Ordoña claimed that her husband was illegally arrested and tortured to confess to a crime that he did not commit.
Obaldo, however, said the medico-legal examination of Ordoña done by Dr. Bernardo Parado, the municipal health officer, clearly showed that the suspect’s only problem was the swelling on his wrist caused by the handcuff.
“In fact, right after she (Mrs. Ordoña) arrived in Bauang to see her husband, as a police procedure, we brought her husband for medical exam. He was checked by Dr. Parado (who) saw that one of his wrists was swollen due to the handcuff,” he said.
Obaldo said Ordoña sustained bruises caused by thorns and pointed objects when lawmen chased him in a forested area in Barangay Urayong where he hid after shooting Picar.
Obaldo admitted though that Ordoña was not immediately released from police custody to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) due to a court order.
“Yes, because Judge Ferdinand Fe granted my motion for continued custody of the suspect for further investigation because he was then cooperating with us and (expressed willingness) to (speak about) other crimes and the masterminds,” Obaldo said.
However, the supposed confession was deferred and Ordoña declined to talk anymore after a private lawyer, accompanied by a defeated councilor, was sent to assist him.
Ordoña was eventually transferred to the BJMP. His wife is allegedly now under the custody of a politician.
Obaldo said ballistic tests showed that the caliber .45 pistol seized from Ordoña was the one used in the Picar killing.
He said there is a strong case against Ordoña, who tested positive for gunpowder burns and was positively identified by witnesses as Picar’s attacker.
Bataoil vouched for the “integrity and professionalism” of the Bauang police, but invited the CHR to conduct a probe “as part of our policy of transparency.”
Meanwhile, Picar’s daughters Rianne and Cristine called on Mrs. Ordoña to “find space in her heart to champion the cause of our mother.”
“Mrs. Ordoña, the reason your husband is in jail is because he killed our mother. You cannot deny it,” they said in a statement in reaction to her allegations. – With Jun Elias
- Latest
- Trending
