Ex-Ilocos mayor wanted for murder falls

MANILA, Philippines — A former mayor of Dingras, Ilocos Norte who is facing murder charges in connection with the killing of an official of an electric cooperative was arrested in Quezon City on Friday.

Marynette Gamboa, 55, was arrested at her condominium unit in Barangay Bagumbayan at around 1 p.m., Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr.,  Quezon City Police District chief, said.

The arrest was based on a warrant issued by Batac City Regional Trial Court Branch 17 Judge Felix Salvador and served by personnel of the Eastwood police and Ilocos police regional intelligence division.

Gamboa is the alleged mastermind in the murder of Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative president Lorenzo Ruiz in September 2009. The victim was alighting from a van to attend a board meeting in Currimao town when he was shot several times.

Gamboa is also the alleged mastermind in the ambush of Dingras mayor-elect Joeffrey Saguid and Sangguniang Panlalawigan board member Robert Castro in December also in 2009.

Gamboa lost when she ran for representative of the second district of Ilocos Norte last May.