NBI to conduct parallel investigation on Kalinga gubernatorial bet’s murder

The family of slain vice governor in Kalinga province, who is running for governor, has requested the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a separate investigation into the assassination last April 7.

Supervising Agent Arnel Dalumpines, of the NBI-Special Task Force (STF), said yesterday that the wife of Kalinga Vice Gov. Rommel Diasen, Floydelia, sent the letter of request to the NBI-STF two days after the incident.

"I would be sending a five-man team today to go to Kalinga to conduct a parallel investigation on the assassination of Vice Gov. Diasen. We would also be coordinating with the local police and our Cagayan Valley Regional Director Constantino Joson," Dalumpines said.

In her letter to NBI Director Nestor Mantaring, Mrs. Diasen said that "while there is an on-going investigation by the local PNP, we believe that the expertise of the NBI will greatly help in the solution of the case."

The local Philippine National Police (PNP) is already conducting an investigation into the case.

PNP Task Force Usig Chief Superintendent Geary Barias earlier identified Joel Melod, an 18-year-old Kalinga tribesman, as a suspect. Melod remains at large.

Dalumpines said that while there were speculations that Diasen’s death was triggered by a tribal war and not politically motivated, the NBI said they would still consider all possible angles.

Diasen, who was running under the pro-administration Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) ticket, was reportedly delivering a speech in Barangay Magnao in Tabuk, Kalinga when a man armed with a caliber .45 pistol went up the stage and shot him six times at close range, hitting him in the head and body.

He was brought to the Kalinga Provincial Hospital at 2 p.m. on April 7, Black Saturday, but died some 30 minutes later.

The victim was reportedly a three-term mayor of Tabuk and was running against Rep. Lawrence Wacnang of Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) and Warren Luyaben, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Kalinga chapter, for the gubernatorial seat.