Politics seen in vice mayor's failed assassination attempt

BATANGAS, Philippines  – Police probers see politics as one of the possible motives in the failed assassination attempt against Talisay Vice Mayor Florencio Manimtim last Saturday.

In a press conference held at the Talisay Municipal Hall yesterday, Chief Superintendent Aaron Fidel, Deputy Regional Director for Administration, said politics is the main angle that they were eyeing in the slay try.

“ We’re considering the political conflicts that happened here in Talisay before and after the May 2010 elections but we’re still open to other possible angles,” Fidel said.

Manimtim is now in stable condition at the Mercado Hospital in Tanauan City after sustaining a gunshot wound in the head. His bodyguard Joel Caringal, who also suffered a gunshot wound in the face and abdomen, is also recovering at the St. Andrew Hospital.

Another bodyguard, Guillermo Macaraeg, died in the ambush.

On Aug. 7, Manimtim, together with his relatives and friends, was attending his father’s burial at the Talisay Municipal Cemetery at Barangay Poblacion when they were shot by at least two suspects around 11:30 a.m.

Police has formed Special Investigation Task Group (SITG)- EGO (elected government official) –Manimtim composed of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Batangas Police Intelligence Office and the Talisay police to handle the investigation.

When asked to elaborate on the political angle in the case, CIDG Batangas Chief Inspector Joel de Mesa, head of the SITG-Manimtim, said “ Well, there were standoffs here at the Talisay Municipal Hall during and after the elections and the filing of electoral protest.”

De Mesa was referring to the filing of an electoral protest by vice mayoralty bet Gerry Natanauan against his closest rival Florencio Manimtim due to alleged poll anomalies.

But Natanauan denied allegations that he had a hand in the planned assassination.

Meantime, the SITG released yesterday cartographic sketchES of the two gunmen.

Witnesses described one of the suspects as between 25-29 years of age, with fair complexion, medium built, and 5’3” to 5’6” tall.

The other suspect was described as between 35 to 37 years of age, with fair complexion, and 5’4” to 5’6” tall.

– With Ed Amoroso