‘I won’t leave San Nicolas’

SAN NICOLAS, Pangasinan — " Remember... I will not leave the town of San Nicolas. Even if I become impoverished, and whatever happens, I am always here to assist you."

These were the final words delivered in Ilocano by former mayor Conrado Rodrigo Jr. to his supporters at a meeting in the town’s gymnasium last Thursday morning.

It was to be Rodrigo’s "farewell speech." A few minutes later, he was shot dead by three men while he was about to board his CRV vehicle.

The meeting, which Rodrigo organized, was meant to ask his followers to support the incoming administration of Leoncio Saldivar III, who defeated his son, Mayor Christopher Jones Rodrigo, in the recent polls.

The elder Rodrigo, 53, was the chairman of Barangay Poblacion West and incumbent president of the Liga ng Barangay here.

He served as mayor for 11 years, including his two-year stint as officer-in-charge (OIC) during the term of former President Corazon Aquino.

In his speech, Rodrigo gave four messages to his and his son’s supporters: "Let us concede that we were defeated," "Let us respect the voice of the majority," "Let us help the progress of our town," and "Let us show there’s peace in our community."

Those who attended the meeting recalled that Rodrigo seemed to be saying goodbye as he repeatedly expressed his love and gratitude to his supporters and assured them he would not leave them.

But as fate would have it, his end lay just moments later.

Rodrigo’s eldest son, Conrado III or Randy, told The STAR his father suddenly became "extra sweet" days before he died. Randy served as his father’s private secretary during the latter’s first term as mayor.

"He was a model father," he said.

Randy said many feared his dad because he loved guns and was a known sharpshooter.

"Maraming di naniniwala na patay siya kasi sharpshooter siya (Many don’t believe he is dead because he was a sharpshooter)," he said.

The night before his father was assassinated, Randy recalled they were discussing their plan to migrate to the United States. The elder Rodrigo’s sister had petitioned him, his wife and their youngest son.

Randy said his father had openly admitted their defeat so they had no "qualms" or "problems" about any danger facing them after the elections.

This, he said, could be the reason why his father had no bodyguard when he was attacked.

Randy believes his father’s killing was politically motivated.

He quoted a police report that a suspect, Jonathan de Leon, was nabbed by the police allegedly inside Salvidar’s compound. The STAR saw a copy of a witness’ sworn statement alleging this.

The two other suspects fled on board a motorcycle.

Superintendent Edgar Basbas, deputy director for operations of the provincial police, said De Leon was found positive for gunpowder burns. An M-16 Armalite rifle with 30 live bullets and a caliber .380 with seven live bullets were seized from him.

But Saldivar, in a press statement last Thursday, said, "Today is another black day (for) San Nicolas, reminiscent of the death of one person that occurred on March 20, 2004 when an innocent individual was mercilessly killed in the heart of the town that even endangered the life of my six-year-old boy who was seated beside the victim."

He was referring to the killing of his bodyguard/driver.

Saldivar condemned Rodrigo’s killing, saying he has always abhorred violence.

"This violence must be put to a stop. The perpetrators must be brought to justice wherever and whoever they are. I am urging the police authorities to exert what they can to serve justice to former mayor Conrado Rodrigo and his family," said.

Saldivar, however, called on Rodrigo’s family and their friends and supporters "to exercise caution before accusing me and my family."

He appealed to them to wait for the results of the official investigation before resorting to baseless accusations.

He said that immediately after he was proclaimed, he urged his friends and supporters to forget the animosities caused by the elections.

Saldivar recounted that when one of his supporters, Eulogio Camacho of Barangay Nining, was allegedly beaten up by the followers of Mayor Rodrigo on the night of May 10, he refrained from retaliating because "I believe in the wheels of justice as the only resort."

He added that when another supporter, Nando Mesias of Barangay San Isidro, was also allegedly beaten up by the outgoing mayor’s followers, "I never lifted a finger to take revenge because I know violence begets violence."

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Mario Sandiego, provincial police director, went here Thursday night to talk to the Rodrigo and Saldivar clans to "ease the tension."

He has fielded an augmentation force here and ordered that the arrested suspect be detained at the provincial police headquarters in Lingayen town. — Eva Visperas