Raps filed vs. former mayor in fatal NAIA shooting

MANILA, Philippines - The Task Force Talumpa filed on Monday multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder charges against former Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur Mayor Wilson 'Kitty' Nandang in connection with the fatal shooting of Labangan Mayor Ukol Talumpa at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 last year.

The filing of the charges against Nandang was confirmed by Pasay City Police chief Sr. Supt. Florencio Ortilla.

"Charges of multiple frustrated murder and multiple murder were filed against him," Ortilla told the Star.

Ortilla however would not say if police had identified Nandang as the alleged mastermind.

Last Dec. 27, the task force filed charges of multiple murder against the alleged gunman, Marrox Amlong, alias Maroks and two other John Does.

Ortilla said the task force is still hunting down the other still unidentified suspect.

Talumpa, his wife Leah, his nephew Saripudin and 18-month old Phil Thomas Lirazan were shot dead at the arrival area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 last Dec. 20.

Amlong and Nandang remain at-large, police said.

Earlier, Chief Inspector Joey Gofort, chief of the Pasay City Police Investigation said that Nandang has not been removed from the list of suspects as the gunman, Amlong, was identified as one of his security escorts.

Gofort also confirmed that one of Talumpa’s escorts during the time of the airport shooting also told investigators having heard the gunman saying “mayor, mayor, para kay Kitty Nandang ito,” shortly before opening fire. Five other people were also injured in the attack.

Gofort said that although charges have already been filed against the gunman and his unidentified cohorts, the task force would still probe deeper to unmask the masterminds behind the shooting.

Rayam Talumpa, the eldest daughter of the slain mayor, also earlier said she strongly believes that politics and his father’s fight against illegal drugs in Labangan were behind the shooting.

“Ako ang panganay na anak ng namatay na Mayor Okol Talumpa. Noong una, simpleng tao lang ang papa ko. Namumuhay kami ng simple pero nung talamak na ang droga sa aming lugar, doon na nagisip na tumakbo sa position ang papa ko. Siya ang nanalong bise mayor ng Labangan noon 2010. Ang una nyang agenda ay anti-drugs. Ayaw nya sa gumagamit ng droga. Ito na rin siguro ang dahilan kung bakit noong December 2, 2010 ay na-ambush ang papa ko. Ito na ang pang-apat na ambush sa kanya. Gusto lang nya na mawala ang mga taong nagbebenta ng droga,” she said.

“Itong nangyaring ito ay politika lang talaga at ang aim nya laban sa droga,” she added.