Clan patriarch denies role in Albano murder

A 70-year-old lawyer from Isabela surfaced yesterday at the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) to clear his name and debunk the vendetta angle being considered by investigators in the killing of Ilagan town mayor Delfinito Albano.

Benjamin Olalia Sr., patriarch of the prominent Olalia clan in Ilagan, said he was prompted to come to Manila to clear his name after reports suggested that Albano was killed in retaliation to the October 2004 murder of his son and namesake at their farm in the said province.

"In the killing of my son, I never linked any member of the Albano clan to the incident", Olalia told QCPD Director Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan Jr. and Superintendents Roger James Brillantes and Procopio Lipana at Camp Karingal in Quezon City.

Olalia was accompanied by his lawyer and relative Oliver Lozano, who said they came forward to pre-empt police in building a case against them.

The lawyer said he was being tagged as the mastermind following reports that the killing of Albano was connected to the murder of his son in October 2004. A source earlier said captured communist hitmen had implicated Albano in the Olalia killing.

The STAR, however, did not name Olalia as a possible suspect.

"Ako na yon," he said, referring to the report.

In a two-page statement, Olalia cited 11 reasons why he could not have been involved in the killings.

He said the slain mayor was a political ally, noting that he even acted as his campaign manager when he ran for office in 2000.

To prove that he never blamed the death of his son to the Albano clan, he brought with him records of the case.

"What I cannot understand and comprehend is the unfair reference to members of the Olalia family as suspects in the killing of Albano. It is possible that these rumors are part of diversionary tactics to protect the real culprits," he said. "I am a lawyer and a law abiding citizen, 70 years of age. I have surviving children who are all degree holders. I will not shame this family with dastardly acts."

Olalia appealed to the media to be fair and not to entertain rumors that link their family to the murder. He also asked the Albano family to meet for a dialogue so they can resolve the issue.

The lawyer, who said he was the political mentor of the slain mayor, stressed that has retired from politics and just wants to clear his name.

Olalia assured police that he would cooperate in the investigation.

Radovan, for his part, welcomed the appearance of Olalia, but emphasized that police never invited or summoned the lawyer.

"He did not surrender, he just came to air his side," the QCPD chief said.

Radovan also pointed out that police never issued any statement implicating the Olalia clan in the murder of Albano.

The QCPD chief said they have concrete leads and are simply firming up their case so it can stand in trial.