Ex-mayor on PDEA watch list wanted for NAIA slays

MANILA, Philippines - A former mayor of Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur is being sought by authorities for his alleged involvement in the fatal ambush at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 last Friday which killed four people, including the incumbent town chief.

This developed as the National Bureau of Immigration (NBI) has identified the two suspects in the killing of Mayor Ukol Talumpa, his wife Lea, his nephew Saripudon Talumpa and 18-month-old Gil Thomas Lirazan.

In an interview, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday said the identities of the culprits were provided by an eyewitness who stood next to Talumpa at the loading bay at the arrival area of the airport when the shooting occurred.

De Lima, however, refused to reveal the names pending the parallel probe of the NBI, which is under the supervision of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

But she confirmed that the NBI is now hunting them down.

De Lima said the NBI investigation has so far pointed to the same angle being pursued by the Philippine National Police – the war against illegal drugs compounded by politics.

She said the suspects belong to the Nandang-Afdal-Malaco drug syndicate allegedly led by Talumpa’s political rival and former Labangan mayor Wilson “Kitty” Nandang, who is on the watchlist of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The gunman, who posed as a policeman and shouted “Mayor! Mayor! Para kay Kitty Nandang ito (This is for Kitty Nandang)” before shooting Talumpa, used to work for Nandang during the latter’s term in their town hall, according to the witness.

“For years, the group enjoyed the protection of some politicians in Mindanao until some of them also decided to enter politics,” De Lima said.

She said probers are looking at the “political situation” in Labangan town, citing the “intense political rivalry” between Talumpa and Nandang.

She said they are also looking at rido or family feud as another possible motive in the killing.

“Politics, drug angle and the rido – these are interrelated,” she said.

Letter from Talumpa’s daughter

The DOJ chief also revealed that she received a letter from Talumpa’s daughter Rayyam supporting the initial findings of NBI probers.

“I think that the fault of my father and mother was their strong advocacy against illegal drugs in the municipality of Labangan. There are so many killings in Labangan that can be attributed to Kitty Nandang,” the letter read.

The victim’s daughter also told De Lima they have witnesses who are willing to testify but are afraid for their safety.

“They intend to supplement said sworn statements as they have now come to identify the cohort of the assailants who was also seen at the airport when the shooting incident took place,” she said.

Rayyam asked for NBI protection as their family starts to cooperate with the investigation.

Police are validating the statements of witnesses in last Friday’s ambush at the NAIA.

“We have witnesses and right now we are verifying their statements which might help us in solving the case,” National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Carmelo Valmoria said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Task Force Talumpa chief Senior Superintendent Billy Beltran said the gunman had not one but two accomplices, including the driver of the getaway motorcycle.

‘Fire airport officials’

A senior administration lawmaker urged President Aquino yesterday to fire officials managing the NAIA,  saying replacing them could help salvage the tarnished image of the country’s main gateway.

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo, chairman of the House committee on Metro Manila development, said the current management of the Manila International Airport Authority “does not deserve a minute in their posts because of what could be observed as their incompetence and apathetic attitude” in light of Talumpa’s killing.

“It’s saddening to know that our premier airport does not have the sufficient number of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to function effectively and deter crimes,” Castelo said.

He said he would initiate a congressional probe “to determine the extent of their official incompetence.”

Malacañang, on the other hand, said the installation of CCTV cameras in the country’s international and domestic airports has been agreed upon under Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya’s term.

“If I remember it right, there were some issues regarding the Takenaka negotiations. I know for a fact that it was only recently, under the term of Secretary Abaya, that the contract with Takenaka was signed,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

Takenaka Corp. is the contractor which will complete the rehabilitation of NAIA-3.

Unusual gestures

The mother of Lirazan, the toddler killed in the NAIA ambush, yesterday said they want the killers brought to justice.

“Everything happened so fast. We heard gunshots, then we saw blood falling from Gil’s head. He just closed his eyes, as if he was going to sleep,” she told ANC’s Headstart.

Lirazan’s neighbor in Bacolod, Councilor Caesar Distrito, yesterday said the boy’s killing was a barbaric and inhuman act.

“The family just went to Manila for a vacation. A supposed innocent and exciting vacation turned into a tragedy,” Distrito said.  – With Non Alquitran, Paolo Romero, Aie Balagtas See, Delon Porcalla, Mike Frialde, Danny Dangcalan