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MALOLOS CITY—The
police should be given enough time to solve the killing
of former Calumpit, Bulacan mayor Ramon “Monching”
Pagdanganan.
Thus
said Bulacan Gov. Joselito Mendoza, as former Bulacan
governor Roberto “Obet” Pagdanganan hinted at a possible
police whitewash on the killing of his younger brother.
In a
statement,
Mendoza said: “We should allow the law to take its normal course and
the authorities to finish the investigation into the
killing last week of former Calumpit mayor Ramon
‘Monching’ Pagdanganan.
“The
authorities must be given enough time to solve the crime
and let those responsible be meted out the corresponding
punishment.”
The
statement added: “I am personally assuring the former
governor of our all-out support in his quest for
justice. But also would like to think that he is fully
aware that any police work is carried out based on
evidence and proof, not hearsay or trial by publicity.”
On the
other hand, the lawyer of Chief Insp. Jacqueline Puapo
and Leo Piadozo said the former governor has no basis in
insinuating that his clients are the two possible
suspects in the killing of his younger brother, who was
shot dead by still- unidentified gunmen while attending
the fiesta in barangay Calizon, Calumpit, on the night
of May 4.
Lawyer
Sergio Bernabe also said he does not believe that
neither Mendoza nor politics is involved in the killing.
“Wala
siyang [Obet Pagdanganan] basehan para gawing
suspect sina Major Puapo at Leo Piadozo,” Bernabe said.
He was
reacting to the press statements of Obet Pagdanganan
after his brother was buried on Sunday at the Calumpit
Memorial Park.
The
former governor scored the police and Mendoza for
failing to act on his suspicion that a police major (Puapo)
and a barangay captain (Piadozo) could be involved in
the killing.
Bernabe
said the former governor should consider that any police
work is based on evidence and proof, and not on hearsay
and trial by publicity.
“Ayaw
niyang tanggapin na ang katotohanan na may mga lumitaw
na mga testigo na siya na ngayong tinutugaygayan ng mga
imbestigador,” Bernabe said, adding that Obet
Pagdanganan should present witnesses and proofs before
he accuses anyone.
Bernabe
also disclosed that it is quite impossible for Piadozo
to kill or have a part in the killing of the former
mayor because Piadozo is presently under the
witness-protection program of the government for tagging
Monching Pagdanganan as the “mastermind” in the May 14,
2006, ambush slaying of physician Norman Joshue,
brother-in- law of Pagdanganan’s political rival and now
incumbent Mayor James de Jesus of Calumpit.
“Hindi
gagawin ni Piadozo ang ibinibintang sa kanya
dahil maaring hindi na magamit ang mga testimonya niya
kung patay na si Monching Pagdanganan,” Bernabe
explained.
“Si
Piadozo ang may death threat, dahil siya
ang nagdawit kay Monching bilang mastermind.”
He added
that it was the court that allowed Piadozo to be under
the protective custody of Puapo.
Meanwhile, police investigators are still pursuing the
“love triangle” angle as a possible motive based on the
statements given by Celeste Fajardo, 29, single, of
barangay Calizon, Calumpit.
In a
sworn statement, Fajardo said she was seated next to
Monching when the latter was shot from behind by his
attackers. She admitted that the former mayor was
courting her.
Fajardo
also told police investigators that sometime in December
2007, Monching mauled a certain Bong Soriano, of Tondo
Manila, who she said was also courting her.
She
added that after one month after the incident, Soriano
sent to her house and angrily and scandalously tried to
force her to go with him, firing a gun in the process.
Fajardo
said Soriano fled upon being told that the former mayor
is on his way to her house. |
