Court orders arrest of Santiago mayor

SANTIAGO CITY — The Regional Trial Court here ordered yesterday the arrest of ‘comebacking’ city mayor Jose Miranda for a double murder case filed against him in connection with the kidnap-slaying of two students in 1996.

But a composite team from the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police led by Superintendent Renato Turingan failed to serve the arrest warrant as the mayor was reportedly out of the town when they raided his residence in Barangay Dubinan here yesterday.

Miranda was accused of masterminding the killing of Elizer Tuliao and Virgilio Bauzon in March 1996. Tuliao’s father, Virgilio, identified the mayor as having ordered the kidnapping and slaying of his son and his son’s friend.

The elder Tuliao, who claimed to be a former jueteng collector working for Miranda, said the mayor bore a grudge against him when he testified in 1996 before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and identified him as a big-time illegal gambling operator in the city.

Environment Secretary Heherson Alvarez, a native of this city whom Miranda accused of plotting his arrest to prevent him from assuming the city mayorship, was then the chairman of the Senate committee.

Also included in Tuliao’s complaint were several policemen, namely SPO4 Emilio Ramirez, SPO2 Alexander Micu, SPO2 Alberto Dalmacio, SPO1 Ferdinand Marzan, SPO1 Wilfredo Leaño and PO1 Rodel Maderal, all members of the Santiago City police. He also accused of having a hand in the kidnapping and murder several civilian security men of Miranda.

Tuliao’s sworn statement was corroborated by policeman Maderal who turned witness and is now under the custody of the NBI.

Meanwhile, Miranda’s lawyer Ernest Soberano filed a motion to quash the arrest warrant against him, citing it as being arbitrary in nature.

"This is plain political harassment. They are doing everything to prevent him from taking over the city leadership," said Sammy Baltar, Miranda’s spokesman. He added that the mayor is taking his time to answer all allegations against him.

Miranda went into political hibernation in 1998 after completing his three terms as city mayor. He ran again for the post in the last election but is now locked in an ongoing electoral controversy after incumbent city mayor Amelita Navarro petitioned local poll officials to declare a failure of elections due to alleged massive fraud and terrorism. — With Lito Salatan