‘No need for gun ban in Cagayan city, town’

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines  – There is no need to impose a gun ban here and in the municipality of Pamplona amid tension among rival political leaders in the areas, Cagayan police director Senior Superintendent Ronaldo Olay said yesterday.

Olay placed Tuguegarao City and Pamplona under close watch and intensified police visibility to avoid an armed confrontation among the followers of political leaders.

Olay, who assumed the post of Cagayan police director last month, said the situation in Tugue-garao and Pamplona remains under control.

Last Wednesday, supporters of ousted Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano held an indignation rally at the St. Peter’s Cathedral and around the city proper.

The group denounced a decision of the ombudsman unseating Soriano.

Soriano’s ouster stemmed from a complaint for abuse of authority filed by Councilor Maila Ting Que, daughter of former mayor Delfin Ting whom he defeated in the last elections.

The mayor was accused of grave misconduct and abuse of authority for granting a special permit for the holding of a flea market without the permission of the city council.

In Pamplona, authorities beefed up security after Vice Mayor Edwin Ifurung charged Mayor Aaron Sampaga for the murder of his brother Edmund Ifurung, a village councilman.

Records show Edmund was gunned down at a family-owned gas station in the village of Bidduang last July 3.

Cristopher Gatotos, a former Army soldier, reportedly admitted killing the village official.

Gatotos surrendered to the authorities with the help of his uncle Brig. Gen. Abraham Bagasin, deputy chief of the Northern Luzon Command.

He alleged that Sampaga tried to silence him.

Aside from Sampaga, also charged were Roderick Unday, Christian Presado, Arthymus Reynon and Mark Anthony Flores.

The murder case against Sampaga had been filed with the Department of Justice in Manila.

Vice Mayor Ifurung told The STAR that Sampaga allegedly plotted to have him killed after he announced his intention to run for mayor in the next elections.

Sampaga, who is on his third and last term, allegedly wants his wife to replace him as the next mayor, said Ifurung.