Widow urges court to issue warrant vs hubby’s killers

THE wife of a man, who was allegedly killed by politicians of a town in Lanao del Norte, is asking the Supreme Court (SC) to issue arrest warrants against the suspects.

Jasmine Paler, who said she personally witnessed the death of her husband Francis, said Tuesday that justice cannot be served until all the suspects are arrested.

“Dili pa hingpit ang akong kalipay hangtod dili pa madakpan ang mga nagpatay sa akong bana,” she told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Tuesday.

The other week, Provincial Prosecutor Diosdao Cabrera, officer-in-charge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Lanao del Norte, formally filed murder charges against former Salvador town mayor Johnny Tawantawan and his son, incumbent Mayor Hassanor Tawantawan, for the death of Francis.

Also charged were the alleged gunmen namely: Mosakira Merbato, Lucman Tomato, Najid Tawantawan and Rebel Mosacala.

According to Jasmine, she saw how her husband was shot inside their house in Lanao del Norte last October 1, 2012 at 4:15 a.m.

She said prior to the killing, they already received threats from the suspects.

“If the suspects would be arrested, maybe that’s the time that peace and order will prevail in Salvador. And I am hoping and praying that arrest warrants would be out against them soon,” she said.

Aside from murder charges, the former mayor was also charged with frustrated murder along with Merbato, Malik Macayao, Badelles Mangontawar and Macapindo Masaro. They were accused in the ambush of Tadiali M. Tawantawan and his companions sometime in August 1, 2012 at Poblacion, Salvador in Lanao del Norte.

Earlier, Jasmin sent a letter to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno asking for justice for the death of her husband.