2 suspects nabbed in mayor’s slay

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan , Philippines   â€“ Two suspects in the killing of Urbiztondo town mayor Ernesto Balolong Jr. and two other men on Saturday were arrested by authorities a day after the shooting.

Provincial police officer in charge Senior Superintendent Sterling Raymund Blanco identified the suspects as Eduardo de Guzman, 65, a farmer of Barangay Salomague Norte, and Marito Sarmiento, 38, a radiator mechanic of Barangay Pangascasan, both in Bugallon town.

The Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) of the police was able to track down the suspects through the ownership registration of the getaway vehicle, Blanco said.

Several witnesses also identified the two suspects as the gunmen, police said.

The two were seen armed with an M-16 rifle and an automatic pistol.

Balolong, his bodyguard PO1 Eliseo Ulanday and bystander Edmund Meneses died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Rex Ferrer, personal aide of Balolong; Jose Vigilla, Jimboy Palisoc and Rogelio Esguerra, a taho (soy curd) vendor, were also hit. They were brought to a nearby hospital and survived the attack.

Balolong was reportedly buying taho from Esguerra near a bus terminal in Barangay Poblacion when the two gunmen approached him and opened fire at close range.

The gunmen fled in a dark gray Toyota Innova van toward San Carlos City.

Blanco said the suspects initially shot Ulanday before turning to Balolong.

The mayor, who was hit in the shoulder in the initial attack, tried to run.

Blanco said the gunmen finished off Balolong with automatic gunfire, hitting the other victims.

Balolong reportedly sustained up to 18 gunshot wounds in the head and chest.

Blanco said a follow-up operation was immediately launched based on the description of the gunmen by witnesses.

Police were able to track down the ownership of the getaway vehicle that was found abandoned in San Carlos City.

Through the help of the police Highway Patrol Group and the Land Transportation Office, the SITG identified the owner of the vehicle as Donny Ravago of Barangay San Vicente, Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

Ravago, engaged in a rent-a-car business in Pasig City, later said he would cooperate with the police in the investigation, Blanco said.

Blanco added the SITG also sought the assistance of the North Luzon expressway for CCTV footage based on the tollway ticket retrieved from the vehicle.

Superintendent Daniel Coronel, head of the provincial police Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), added they recovered some 40 empty shells of caliber 5.56 and 22 empty shells of 9 mm at the crime scene.

SOCO operatives also recovered a slug of caliber .45, one magazine of 5.56, a black holster, and the tollway ticket from the getaway vehicle.

The ignition key of the vehicle was recovered under a nearby mango tree, apparently thrown away by the suspects.

Even after presenting the two suspects in a press conference, Blanco said they are still investigating the motive of the killing.

“We are still in the process of elimination to establish the nearest possible motive for the killing,” he said.

Blanco said they have yet to secure statements from the family.

“Despite the incident, we want them to feel that the government is behind them in the pursuit of justice,” he added.

Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. condemned the killing of Balolong.

“Absolutely no one, in any way, will benefit from the crime except those with distorted values and deranged minds,” Espino said.

He said it was ironic that a day after he convened the provincial peace and order council to discuss measures to ensure the safety of the province, “this cold-blooded killing should take place.”

Chief Inspector Stephen Budong, chief of the provincial police legal office, said they are set to file multiple murder and frustrated murder charges against the two suspects today.