Murder raps filed vs ally of mayor, two others

CARMONA, Cavite – The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) filed murder charges yesterday against an alleged close ally of the mayor of Carmona town, his son and a policeman in connection with the fatal shooting of a barangay chairman and a tanod chief here last week.

Inspector Edgardo Vallarta, CIDG-Cavite deputy field officer, identified the accused as Pedro Retrivera, his son Dennis, both of Barangay Bangkal, and PO1 Antonio Hebron, a member of the Carmona police.

Vallarta said the older Retrivera, believed to be a close ally of Carmona Mayor Roy Loyola, was accused of having masterminded the killing of barangay chairman Roberto de Salit and tanod chief Antonio Gallardo near the Carmona municipal trial court last Oct. 10..

De Salit and his tanods were attacked as they were about to board a patrol vehicle shortly after attending a hearing of a frustrated homicide case the older Retrivera had filed against De Salit and tanod Isagani Tirao.

De Salit died while being rushed to the hospital. Gallardo died two days later. Tirao was wounded in the attack.

The day before he died, Gallardo was able to execute a statement wherein he also identified Hebron as the one who tied him up, dragged and shot him as he ran for safety while the two gunmen were firing shots.

The alleged gunmen, Leo Magallon and Rosauro Abaña, were later shot dead by responding policemen, reportedly even after they had raised their hands.