Friday, February 08, 2008 Kin seeks speedy arrest of brains in Rafael slay
WHILE three of the six alleged killers of Paracelis town Mayor Ceasar Rafael are now in police custody, the local chief executive's daughter challenged authorities to arrest the mastermind who are still at-large as they pose a threat to her and her family amid their calls for justice.
Natonin Mayor Anna Marie Rafael Banaag challenged the officials of the Mountain Province Provincial Government as to its commitment to help Task Force Paracelis for the immediate resolution of the case pointing out other perpetrators and the mastermind of her father's death is still free.
Banaag added although the PNP of Mountain Province will not stop doing their job because the case is far from over.
Culprits are local
Task Force Paracelis claimed to the media last week that two of Rafael's killers surrendered while another was arrested.
The task force identified Rene Yadao and Bong Felix as the suspects who surrendered to police last January 21. The suspects reportedly claimed they were bothered by their consciences when they killed Rafael forcing them to surrender to the local authorities.
The arrested suspect last January 22 was identified by the task force as Tirso Abalos, 40.
The three accused are town mates of the murdered mayor.
Banaag believed those arrested were involved in her father's death.
Rafael was ambushed last December 25 while leaving his farm at Sitio Sinigpit in Botigui, Paracelis. At least six men peppered his HiLux Toyota pickup with at least 60 bullets. The mayor's body bore 200 bullet wounds and his face was unrecognizable as it was blown up by bullets.
Disillusioned
As the remaining perpetrators and the mastermind are still at-large, Banaag feels disillusioned. She hoped that Task Force Paracelis created by the Provincial Government to look into the killing will be able to arrest the other culprits especially the mastermind.
She thanked the Provincial League of Municipalities (PLM), where her father was the president upon his death. The league called on authorities after the incident to immediately cause the immediate resolution of the case.
Task Force Paracelis reportedly is trying to locate the other suspects identified as Danny Agabao, Tony and Orland Gumbi, including Rommel Ambatali, the alleged mastermind and a barangay leader of Anonat of Paracelis town. (ALA)
