2 cops prime suspects in ambush of Bulacan mayor

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Two policemen in Bulacan were tagged yesterday as primary suspects in the ambush-slay of Mayor Esteban Paulino of Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan and two of his companions Monday afternoon.

Chief Superintendent Roberto Calinisan, Central Luzon police director, immediately ordered the disarming of the two policemen after they were identified by relatives of Paulino as suspects in the daylight ambush in Barangay Baybay, Angat, Bulacan.

The suspects were identified as SPO3 Felix Valencia, an intelligence operative of the Bulacan police, and his brother who is assigned at the Angat police station.

Calinisan said the Valencias will undergo paraffin examinations and their firearms will be subjected to ballistic tests at the Bulacan police headquarters’ crime laboratory.

"We will look into the report and go by the evidence," Calinisan told reporters here, as he urged witnesses to come into the open and identify the suspects.

Paulino, his security aide PO1 Teofilo Abellanosa, and driver Wowo Venturina died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds in the ambush.

The mayor’s vehicle, a government-issued Nissan Safari sports utility vehicle, bore some 200 bullet holes at the right and left sides, on the back and on the hood.

Investigators recovered 175 spent shells of M16 and M13 Armalite rifles at the crime scene.

Probers are eyeing politics and vendetta as possible motives in the ambush, but did not discount the participation of some criminal groups.

Calinisan said Paulino was earlier tagged as one of the principal suspects in the recent killing of Ben Garcia, a top leader of the Aniban ng mga Magsasaka at Agrikultura, a left-leaning peasant organization.

Police also tagged Paulino as the primary suspect in the killing of former Mayor Anselmo Esquivel of Doña Remedios Trinidad last year.

Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim said the Angat incident should serve as a wake-up call for local officials and the police to strengthen their intelligence network.

"Lawless elements behind this treacherous and criminal act must be arrested and prosecuted. They are nothing but plain criminals and terrorists who want to take advantage of the prevailing situation," Lim said. — With Cecille Suerte Felipe