Suspect owns killing "Tata Negro"; charges for murder, gun ban filed

CEBU, Philippines - A fellow farmer from Siaton, Negros Oriental allegedly hired Jimmy Diala to kill the controversial independent candidate for councilor Crisistomo “Tata Negro” Llaguno.

Diala who was charged yesterday with murder and violation of the Comelec gun ban before the Regional Trial Court claimed that a certain Rendon Chavez ordered him to kill Llaguno.

Diala said he was forced to do what he was told because his life and that of his family are at stake if he refused to do it. Diala could not provide a clear motive of Chavez in ordering the killing of Llaguno except that he was allegedly told that they need to kill him because he is a “drug lord.”

Diala said they did not also agree the amount as his payment. According to him, he was only told to proceed to the North Reclamation Area after killing Llaguno to get his payment. 

He was allegedly promised a construction job by Chavez when they left Negros Oriental last month. Diala said he had to sell two fighting cocks for his fare in coming to Cebu with Chavez.

Upon arrival on April 27, they rented a pension house and transferred at B. Rodriguez Extension near Llaguno’s house last Sunday. That day, he said, Chavez ordered him to kill Llaguno.

“Ako giingnan siya na di ko mopatay ana kay di man na maoy ato kasabutan. Ingon man siya na og di ka mopatay ana, ikaw og imo pamilya ako patyon’,” Diala said.

Chavez allegedly gave him the picture of Llaguno and was taught how to use the .45 caliber pistol given to him. Chavez also gave him cellular phone as their communication.

Since he could neither read nor write their communication was done through calls. After shooting Llaguno in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel last Tuesday afternoon while campaigning, Diala said he tried to escape by boarding a PUJ but was arrested by the pursuing members of the Special Weapons and Tactics.

Diala was formally charged in court yesterday for murder and violation of the Comelec gun ban. During the inquest investigation at the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office he admitted having regrets for what he has done.

He asked for forgiveness from the family of Llaguno but the mother said she could not forgive Diala.

Chief Insp. George Ylanan, Chief of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cebu City Police Office, said that they have already established that the incident was well-planned.

Ylanan said the strongest angle they are looking into as possible motive of the incident is on illegal drugs.

“Tanan information gathered lean towards drugs. Utang ato gitan-aw. Automatic na nga atong i-explore sad ang politics kay politiko man siya,” Ylanan said.

As to the allegations circulating yesterday through a text message that Llaguno’s association with Vice Mayor Mike Rama was among the topics discussed by a number of drug lords in the city, Ylanan said that needs to be validated first.

He also requested the source of the text message to appear before them to substantiate his claim.

Ylanan said that this case is an isolated one as history dictates that there are no politically-related killings in Cebu City. — Niña G. Sumacot and Jasmin U. Labaco/FPL (THE FREEMAN)