3 get life for Isabela town vice mayor’s slay

TUGUEGARAO, Cagayan, Philippines — Three persons, including a retired Army colonel, have been sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the killing of Florante Raspado, a former vice mayor of Jones, Isabela.

Reynaldo Tapia along with Michael Deocariza and Victor Fontilara were also ordered to pay P3 million in damages to the family of Raspado, Echague Regional Trial Court Judge Bonifacio Ong said in a ruling issued on Friday.

Tapia, a retired colonel, is a consultant of Jones Mayor Leticia Sebastian. Deocariza is a member of the Army’s Second Division based in Tanay, Rizal. 

Tapia and Deocariza were arrested at a checkpoint in Maddela, Quirino a few hours after Raspado was gunned down on June 19, 2015. Fontilara was arrested in San Agustin, Isabela on the same day.

The court cleared Tapia, Deocariza and Fontilara of involvement in the killing of Anthony Agarin, an aide of Councilor Lanie Uy who pursued them after Raspado was gunned down, for lack of witnesses.

Raspado was meeting with municipal councilors when he was shot.

Councilor Ronaldo Lucas, who assumed Raspado’s post, was also tagged in the killing.

Lucas was seized by New People’s Army rebels in April 2016. He was found dead after several hours.

Raspado’s widow, Evelyn, was elected vice mayor in 2016.