Isabela town mayor's alleged gunman nabbed

THE fourth suspect and alleged gunman in the slaying of Maconacon, Isabela mayor Erlinda Domingo was arrested by authorities in Quezon City on Friday night.

The suspect, Marsedal Abduhadi Endaman alias Bagwis, was arrested in Barangay Culiat while cops from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) were conducting Oplan Galugad, radio and television reports said.

Police also recovered firearms, ammunition, and sachets of suspected illegal drugs during Endaman's arrest, the reports added.

On January 22, Domingo was shot dead while she was about to check in at the Park Villa Apartelle in Examiner Street Quezon City.

The QCPD said the mayor and her driver were unloading their baggage from their Mitsubishi Adventure when gunmen, aboard two motorcycles, appeared.

Domingo died on the spot after she was shot at the back of her head.

Her driver, Bernard Plasos, sustained a gunshot wound in the right thigh after trying to chase the gunmen on foot, one of whom fired at him.

Earlier pursuit operations led to the arrest of three suspects identified as Christian Pajenado; Michael Domingo, 28, a resident of Riverside, Commonwealth, QC; and Mary Grace Malones-Abduhadi, 25, resident of Culiat in QC.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II had reminded the National Capital Region (NCR) Police Office and QCPD to probe all angles of the incident.

"Mariin kong ipinapaalala kina (NCRPO Police) Director Leonardo Espina at (QCPD Director, Senior Superintendent) Richard Albano na alamin nila ang kabuoan nito. Ang inaasahan ko ay isang comprehensibong imbestigasyon sa krimeng ito,” Roxas said earlier.

Roxas said this is not the first time that an incumbent Maconacon mayor was killed, noting that in 2009, Mayor Francisco Talosig was also shot by a lone unidentified male gunman.

He added that he wants to know if these killings are isolated incidents or if they are connected.