Hunt on for Isabela mayor facing double murder charges

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) warned yesterday all concerned local and national government agencies in Santiago City, Isabela to stop recognizing Mayor Jose Miranda because of his fugitive status.

Undersecretary for Local Government Concerns Eduardo Soliman said Miranda has ceased to have authority in running the city government after failing to comply with a lawful order submitting himself to a local court to undergo trial in connection with the killing of students Elizer Tuliao and Virgilio Bauzon here in March 1996.

Upon orders of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr., Soliman said the Land Bank of the Philippines was advised to refrain from entering into any financial transaction with the city government with Miranda as signatory.

The DILG directive came in the wake of reports that Miranda is still running the affairs of the city government through his son, former city mayor Joel Miranda, whom he appointed as city administrator before going into hiding.

This, despite an earlier DILG order directing Vice Mayor Chito Manubay to take over as acting mayor.

"They should not pay any attention to him (Miranda) because he is a fugitive from the law and charged with the non-bailable crime of murder," Soliman said.

Soliman also ordered Chief Superintendent Dominador Resos Jr., Cagayan Valley police director, to exhaust all lawful means for the immediate arrest of Miranda who has been in hiding following the court’s issuance of an arrest warrant for him last June 25.

NBI and police agents failed to serve the arrest order because Miranda was reportedly out of town when they raided his residence here.

The local office of the National Bureau of Investigation said Miranda is suspected to be in Metro Manila preparing to flee the country.

Other sources, however, said the mayor is still in Santiago City, transferring from one place to another to evade arrest. Resos said these reports have turned out to be negative.

Miranda went into political hibernation in 1998 after completing his three terms as mayor but reclaimed the post in the recent elections.