Ex-Ilocos mayor charged with murder released from jail

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte, Philippines — Former mayor Marynette Gamboa of Dingras, Ilocos Norte was released from prison in Batac City on Thursday, two weeks after she was arrested on murder charges.

Regional Trial Court Branch 17 Judge Felix Salvador lifted the warrant for Gamboa’s arrest that he issued on May 30, citing her pending motion for reconsideration before the Office of the President.

 “Proceedings against her in this case should be suspended until her appeal... is resolved with finality,” Salvador said in ordering Gamboa’s release.

Gamboa is the alleged mastermind in the killing of Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative president Lorenzo Rey Ruiz in 2009. She was arrested at her condominium unit in Barangay Bagumbayan, Quezon City on June 28.

The former mayor was also tagged in the ambush of Dingras Mayor Joefrey Saguid and Sangguniang Panlalawigan board member Robert Castro, also in 2009. 

Gamboa lost to former Ilocos vice governor Eugenio Angelo Barba in the elections for representative of the second district of Ilocos Norte in May.