NPC seeks review of murder raps vs Pangasinan gov

MANILA, Philippines - The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) urged Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday to order a review of the murder charges filed against Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino and Rep. Jesus Celeste.

NPC provincial chairman Mark Cojuangco said politics could be behind the filing of charges against the coalition’s two members.

“We are very dismayed over these petty tactics against our candidates. It is becoming too obvious to the public that these are machinations for their own political interests,” he said.

Last Tuesday, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed murder charges against Espino and Celeste for the death of Mayor Ruperto Martinez of Infanta town in Pangasinan. The case was filed with the Department of Justice.

Charges were earlier filed with the Ombudsman’s office against Espino by another town mayor in connection with the proliferation of the illegal numbers game jueteng in their province.

The party-list group Abono, which is based in Pangasinan, shared NPC’s call for the review of the murder case against Espino and Celeste.

“Mayor Martinez was an ally of Gov. Espino and Congressman Celeste. Mayor Martinez consistently delivered votes to the NPC. It is impossible for his allies to order his murder,” Abono chairman Rosendo So said.

“If they are training their guns on Gov. Espino, they will allow the real culprits to get away and justice will not be served,” said So, a Pangasinense.

The NPC is engaged in a coalition with the ruling Liberal Party (LP) of President Aquino, but only for the administration Team PNoy senatorial candidates.

In the local level, such as in Pangasinan and many other provinces, LP is slugging it out with NPC, its other coalition partner Nacionalista Party, and Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance.

In Pangasinan, the ruling party is fielding Mayor Hernani Braganza of Alaminos City against Espino.

Martinez was killed in his residential compound last Dec. 15. His alleged killers are currently detained at the Pangasinan provincial jail in Lingayen.

The NBI filed the murder case against Espino and Celeste on the basis of the testimony of a 16-year-old witness, who claimed he heard the two plotting to kill Martinez.