Town mayor faces slay raps

A Cagayan municipal mayor, together with his father and two others, has been charged with double murder for the ambush-killing of a lawyer and his eight-year-old daughter in Binondo, Manila in August last year.

Facing charges filed by the homicide section of the Western Police District with the Manila prosecutor’s office are Mayor Lloyd Antiporda of Buguey town, his father Licerio Jr., Richard Mecate and Romulo Awigan. Several John Does were included in the charge sheet.

SPO4 Alfredo Salazar said the charges, in connection with the Aug. 15, 2003 slaying of lawyer Franklin Tamargo and his daughter Franciel Gail, were based on the complaint of Tamargo’s brother, Harold.

Salazar said another accused, Lucio Columna, was earlier arrested and charged. Last March 8, Columna executed an affidavit admitting his participation in the ambush as a lookout and named those allegedly involved in the murder plot.

Columna claimed that Awigan contacted and introduced him to Mayor Antiporda who allegedly gave Awigan money on Aug. 10 last year.

Four days after their meeting, Columna said he, Awigan and Macate went to Quezon City where they got two motorcycles and then proceeded to Manila.

Shortly after 5 p.m. of Aug. 15, he said they spotted Tamargo, his wife and daughter coming out of a building in Binondo.

Before Tamargo could open the door of his car, he was shot three times. His wife was unscathed.

Columna said they immediately returned to Cagayan after the incident.