Suspect in Nueva Vizcaya mayor’s slay nabbed

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – One of three suspects, who could further strengthen the case against a town mayor suspected of allegedly masterminding the slaying of his vice mayor, is now languishing in the provincial jail following his arrest in Quezon City last Wednesday.

Charges are now being readied against Cesar Sangguyo, one of the suspects in the gruesome killing of Vice Mayor Cesar Lacanilao of Alfonso Castañeda town on alleged orders of Mayor Alfredo Castillo Jr.

Four men shot Lacanilao four times in front of his wife and 16-year-old son inside their residence last Dec. 22.

Chief Inspector Teodoro Santos Jr., intelligence chief of the provincial police, said Sangguyo has admitted taking part in plotting Lacanilao’ slay, but denied any role in the actual killing.

Santos said Sangguyo, a native of Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, was arrested in Quezon City last Wednesday and was turned over to local authorities the following day.

Lacanilao’s family has accused Castillo of being the brains behind the killing. Their counsel, Ernesto Salunat, has criticized the judge handling the case for not issuing an arrest order against Castillo despite his being identified by another suspect, Atong Villacorta, as the alleged mastermind.

Villacorta alleged in his sworn affidavit that the mayor and his brother, Boyet, paid them P100,000 to kill Lacanilao.

In an earlier interview with The STAR, Castillo denied any hand in the murder and welcomed any investigation to clear his name of suspicions that he masterminded it.

Lacanilao’s wife, Marissa, has appealed to President Arroyo and Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena to intervene in the case. — Charlie Lagasca