Ecija mayor denies role in bloody cockpit raid

GAPAN CITY — The mayor of this Nueva Ecija city has denied accusations linking him to last month’s killings of five people in a cockpit here.

Mayor Ernesto Natividad disclaimed knowledge of the May 20 attack in the cockpit in Barangay Pambuan, saying his conscience is clear.

"Malayo sa pagkatao ko yung ganoon (That is far from my character)," he said, referring to the accusations that he was behind the massacre.

At least 10 men, who arrived on board a van, fired their guns inside the arena owned by Boy Pascual while a cockfight was being held.

Killed were Ebeth Pascual, chairman of the Sangguniang Kabataan, and Erick Pascual, both sons of the cockpit owner; Dr. Juanito Reyes, and two cockpit security men identified only as "Kare" and "Pablo."

Police said the gunmen were after the elder Pascual.

Police said a relative of Pascual has linked Natividad to the killing, claiming the two had an altercation prior to the incident.