Ally of Cavite mayor behind fatal shooting?

CAMP PANTALEON GARCIA, Imus, Cavite — A close ally of the mayor of Carmona town was tagged yesterday as the mastermind in the fatal shooting of a barangay chairman and tanod near the Carmona municipal trial court last week.

The victims’ families, who executed sworn affidavits before investigators of the Cavite Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) yesterday, said the mastermind was even seen in the company of the two alleged gunmen, pointing his finger at the victims shortly before the shooting happened.

They said barangay chairman Roberto de Salit, 44, of Bangkal, Carmona, and a group of barangay tanods were about to board a patrol vehicle, parked some 50 meters from the Carmona municipal trial court, when two armed men fired at them at about 9:30 a.m. last Oct. 10.

The victims’ families said the group had just attended a hearing of a frustrated homicide case filed by one Pedro Retrivera against De Salit and barangay tanod Danilo Tirao.

In a sworn affidavit, one of the witnesses said the two gunmen rushed to the victims and shot them shortly after the mastermind, said to be a close ally of Mayor Roy Loyola, was seen pointing his finger at the victims.

De Salit sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Barangay tanod Antonio Gallardo died last Thursday, while Tirao, who was wounded in the attack, is reported to be in stable condition.

A day before Gallardo died, he was able to execute a three-page sworn affidavit wherein he named the mastermind.

Inspector Edgardo Vallarta, CIDG-Cavite deputy field officer, said initial investigation conducted by the Carmona police showed that municipal policemen responded immediately to the shooting incident and killed the two suspected gunmen in a running gunbattle in Sitio Altarez, Barangay Maduya, some 500 meters from the municipal trial court.

Witnesses, however, said the slain suspects, identified as Rosauro Abaña and Leo Magallon, both of Barangay Loma, Biñan, Laguna, were shot even after they had raised their hands.

The witnesses quoted one of the slain suspects as saying, "Hindi kasama ito sa usapan natin (This is not part of our deal)," bolstering speculations that a member of the Carmona police might be involved in the killing of De Salit and Gallardo.

The witnesses identified the mastermind in their affidavits, but CIDG investigators refused to reveal the name pending full investigation.

The witnesses believe that political and personal grudges could have motivated the killing.

Loyola could not be reached for comment as of press time yesterday.