By Tito Natividad Fiel
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Rep. Vicente Belmonte & Mayor Celso Regencia |
ILIGAN CITY – The National Bureau of Investigation, Criminal
Investigation and Detection Group Region 10 have filed Multiple Murder with
Multiple Frustrated Murder suit at the Misamis Oriental Provincial Prosecutor's
Office against Mayor of Iligan City Celso Regencia and seventeen others John Does,
a copy of which showed.
The case stemmed up from the result of the combined efforts
of Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and National
Bureau of Investigation with the “Special Task Force for Belmonte” led by the
Northern Mindanao Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit.
The three security forces were responding to the ambush
incident on December 11 2014 that resulting to death of three and injured other
three including the incumbent Iligan Lone District Representative Vicente
“Varf” Belmonte
“Representative Vicente “Varf” Belmonte was the main target
of the assassination by the alleged perpetrators and it recommends the
institution and filing for the said case”, charge said.
Police Senior Superintendent Alexander C. Tagum, Northern
Mindanao Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit Chief and NBI Region 10
Director Atty. Ricardo A. Dias penned the recommendation for filing of the case
which approved by Police Senior Superintendent Aurelio C. Trampe, PNP Region 10 Deputy Director for operations
and Task Force Belmonte Supervisor.
There are seventeen complainants with some reserved led by
Rep. Vicente Belmonte, the charge sheet copy received by the Tingog Malindang
showed.
The complaint has described one of the suspects Amador B.
Baller as avid supporter of Mayor Regencia and allegedly supplied the baby
armalite used by the alleged attacker Dominador S. Tumala in the ambush.
Mr. Tumala was described in the complaint as former member
of the New People’s Army with a code name “Kumander Paras” and a resident of
Poblacion Alto, Sergio Osmeňa, Zamboanga Del Norte.
Rogelio Pitos Sr., the other suspect described by the
complaint as alias “Kim”, a former member of the New People’s Army Rebel and
avid friend of alleged mastermind of the incident Mayor Regencia, a resident of
Bliss, Culo, Molave Zamboanga del Sur, whose son Rogelio Pitos Jr., was the
owner/vendee of the Green Revo, a gate away vehicle after the ambush.
Romeo Suganub alias Loloy, an alleged illegal numbers games
“swetres” operator/financier claimed to be an avid friend of the prime suspect,
a resident of Jimenez, Misamis
Occidental who was constantly seen with the Mayor before the incident and a
Mayor’s wife relative allegedly supplied the armalite riffle for the ambush,
complaint showed.
The complaint also named Peejay Capangpangan as suspect
which a former police officer assigned here and served as the “close in”
bodyguard/security detailed to Mayor Celso Regencia, and is now fugitive with
an outstanding warrant of arrest for murder of Nanding Sulijon, a hard hitting
radio commentator that criticized the Mayor.
The other suspects are only described by their aliases and
the full identity is still under further verification, the case filed copy
said.
Rep. Belmonte commented Thursday Morning that he was glad
where the authority quickly concluded their investigation and finally filed the
case to the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
“I still believe our judicial system that justice would be
served to me and those killed during the ambush where their family still
grieving because of the incident”, Rep. Belmonteg grieved
He strongly believed that he was the prime target of the
ambush because earlier he declared to run for Mayor by 2016 against the
incumbent Mayor Regencia, considering it is the Representative’s last term of
office and he claimed that the incident was politically motivated.
When sought for reaction of the case Thursday afternoon,
Mayor Regencia declined to face for interview instead his Administrator Melchor
Alquizola has extended time for comment.
Alquizola said that the business is usual in the city hall
and they are waiting the official subpoena that would be served saying that
Mayor Regencia’s camp was glad that the case has been lodged to the proper
forum for them to answer it officially, and they would not be put into trial by
publicity.
Alquizola claimed that the incident was orchestrated by the
Mayor’s opposition and put them into trial by publicity.
“The Mayor’s best defense is his innocence in addition to
the lawyers that we would commission soon in defending the case once we
received the official communication in relation this and we still believe the
judicial processes and the truth will prevail”, Alquizola stressed.
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Mayor Regencial of Iligan welcome VP Jejomar Binay |
In 2013 election, Mayor Regencia suddenly won for the post against the
last term Vice Mayor here Henry Dy under Liberal Party with more than 3,000 margins
of votes.
Less than a month before the violence happened, Vice President of the Philippines Jejomar Binay visited Iligan where Mayor Regencia and few councilors welcomed it and joined in public exposure.
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