San Carlos mayor succumbs to gunshot wounds after attack

San Carlos City, Pangasinan Mayor Julian Resuello, who was wounded in a daring attack by unidentified gunmen at a public gathering Saturday night, died of his injuries at the St. Luke’s Medical Center yesterday.

His son Julier said at a press briefing at the hospital that his father died at around 7 a.m. from gunshot wounds in the chest. He was 52.

"My father was a victim of political violence, we mourn his death, and we are leaving to the police the investigation of the case," he said.

President Arroyo went to St. Luke’s to condole with and promise swift justice to the Resuello family.

The violence prompted the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to put the city of San Carlos under its control.

"As your commissioner in charge of Region 1, I wish to announce that we have no recourse in the Comelec but to declare San Carlos City under Comelec control," commissioner Romeo Brawner said.

He said the decision was based on the recommendation by provincial election supervisor Reddy Balabar and provincial police director Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez.

"But of course my announcement is subject to confirmation by the Commission en banc," Brawner added. He said Comelec’s top officials, including chairman Benjamin Abalos, had already been apprised of the situation.

At least two gunmen attacked Resuello as he was shaking hands with supporters during a fiesta celebration in barangay Elang. Killed instantly in the attack was Resuello’s bodyguard, Eulogio Martinez. Seven people, including a nine-year-old girl, were wounded in the attack.

The three-term mayor was running for vice mayor against Harry Cagampan, who used to be his vice mayor. His son is running for mayor against former mayor Douglas Soriano. Under Philippine laws, a local official is barred from seeking reelection after his third term.

Congressional candidate Rachel Arenas, daughter of socialite Baby Arenas, also showed up at the press briefing. She was also at the fiesta celebration at the time of the shooting.

"The use of guns, goons and gold must stop," Arenas said. "Now, more than ever, is the time that we should pray harder so that violence of this kind will not happen again."

Julier Resuello said, "We will continue the fight for good governance, we will continue the mission of my dear father, we will continue to bring progress to our beloved province. It’s up to the people now to decide the kind of government they want."

George Tamondong, a television cameraman and close family friend of the victim, said he saw the two gunmen fire their guns at Resuello and his bodyguard.

"Suddenly there was shooting, I saw the mayor fall, I took cover," Tamondong told The STAR.

Resuello began his political career as a barangay captain, then later as councilor, and vice mayor. He had been the city’s mayor for the past nine years.

Tamondong said the mayor had been warned of an assassination plot against him and had even been advised to stay away from the fiesta celebration.

"The family is crying for justice, they want the brains behind this heinous crime put behind bars," Tamondong said.

Nerez said investigators "have positive leads" in the case, but stressed that "the greater challenge to us is to unmask the masterminds."

The violence also sparked fears among public school teachers who are now afraid to serve as election inspectors, sources said. Sources also said businesses had been affected by the killings.

"We used to be open up to 11 p.m. but now we close at sunset. It’s back to the old regime," a businesswoman who requested anonymity said.

Gov. Victor Agbayani said the province grieves for the loss of Mayor Jolly Resuello. "We condemn this act of violence and call for sobriety that no more blood be shed."

"This is a very bad and frightening incident. It sends a wrong signal to us," said Burgos Mayor Domingo Doctor Jr.

"We call on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to act with urgency and determination to solve this murder and bring his killers to justice," a statement by the League of Cities of the Philippines said.

Concerned citizens of San Carlos City, meanwhile, are offering a P100,000 reward to anyone who can provide information that can lead to the arrest of the killers of Resuello and his aide.

Slay try on another mayor

An unidentified gunman fired through a bedroom window at the sleeping Morong, Bataan Mayor Norberto Linao Jr. before dawn Sunday but missed his target.

Police have yet to establish the motive for the slay try but it came on the heels of several election-related incidents that had already left several warring politicians and their supporters dead or wounded.

Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao, chief of the Provincial Intelligence and Investigation Branch (PIIB), told The STAR that the lone gunman fired once at Linao with a .45 cal. pistol while the latter was asleep in the master’s bedroom of his house in barangay Poblacion, Morong at about 2:30 a.m. It was not immediately known if there were other people in the room with Linao.

Linao, who is not seeking re-election because he is now on his third and last term, is supporting the candidacy of his younger sister Cynthia Estanislao, who is running under the Lakas-CMD-Liberal ticket. – With Raffy Viray, Ric Sapnu, Sheila Crisostomo, Cecille Suerte Felipe, and Jun Elias