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Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Mexico mayor charged with murder
By Dante M. Fabian
ANGELES CITY -- A former local chief executive filed murder and attempted murder charges against Mexico Town Mayor Teddy Tumang before a court in the City of San Fernando last Friday.
The charges, filed my former Mexico mayor Ernesto Punzalan, were in connection with the alleged killing of retired Army Colonel Wilfredo Munar.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage
But Tumang laughed off the charges, saying the objective of the raps was to dethrone him as mayor.
Although he has yet to receive a copy of the charges, Tumang believed that the complaint against him would be bearing statements that are full of lies.
"Our opponents know that we are enjoying the full support of the town's electorate and they want to capitalize on fabricated issues against us to pull us down," he said.
Punzalan filed the charges before the police, supported by confessions of an alleged erstwhile ally of Tumang identified as Mario Ramin. The mayor allegedly offered Ramin money to kill Munar and Punzalan.
But Tumang said he did not and will never order anybody harmed, much more killed, even if this person was his worst detractor.
"I believe that whatever issues that are raised against me, I could defend. I am innocent and besides I could never gain politically if my critics are harmed because the blame would always be on me," he said.
Tumang also denied reports that Ramin was his hatchet man.
"Ramin is a municipal employee and what we direct him to do are purely official businesses of the Mexico Municipal Government. If he did anything beyond the authority of the local government, then he should be held accountable for it," the mayor said.
He said the claim that he ordered the killing of Munar was coined by his political rivals to be used in their campaign against him.
Earlier reports said the Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan (RHB) claimed the killing of Munar. The rebel group killed the Army official allegedly because he "created an intelligence network and actively helped the military in dismantling RHB guerrilla zones." (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (April 24, 2007 issue)
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