Ex-Ilocos Norte mayor indicted in 2009 slay

LAOAG CITY, Philippines –cA former mayor of Dingras town in Ilocos Norte was formally charged yesterday by the provincial prosecutor’s office as co-accused in the 2009 killing of the president of the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC).    

Former mayor Marineth Gamboa and a Dingras resident, Jonathan Bagamaspad, now join two other accused earlier charged with murder for the killing of INEC president Lorenzo Rey Ruiz.

Gamboa’s inclusion in the charge sheet was ordered by the Department of Justice after a reinvestigation of the case.

The case is undergoing trial at the regional trial court in Batac City.

Gamboa, who filed her candidacy for mayor in the May midterm elections, denied any participation in the Ruiz killing, saying she is ready to face trial.   

Ruiz was gunned down as he was alighting from his official vehicle to attend a meeting of the INEC board of directors.