Ex-NV mayor denies any hand in accountant’s slay

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — A former mayor of this capital town has finally broken his silence and denied having any hand in the Aug. 2 gunsla-ying of the municipal chief accountant.

"I don’t have any knowledge whatsoever of the crime. I will not and will never allow myself or drag our name in such a condemnable and evil act," former mayor Elpidio Dulay told the Catholic-run dwRV-Radio Veritas here this week, referring to the killing of chief accountant Ricardo "Dick" Piedad.

Dulay, who failed in his re-election bid in the May 10 elections, said he and his family, including their political supporters, have already accepted his political fate and that he harbors no ill-feelings toward anyone.

He described Piedad as a dear friend and a childhood acquaintance. "In fact, he was even my financial consultant during my incumbency as mayor," he said.

Dulay, a three-term vice mayor before he became mayor in 2001, and Piedad, this town’s chief accountant for more than 10 years, were neighbors in Barangay Salvacion here.

In the May 10 polls, Dulay lost to his former political ally, come-backing mayor John Severino Bagasao. During the campaign, political detractors alleged that his three-year mayoral stint was marred by fund irregularities, which he vehemently denied.

Police probers were eyeing Dulay as one of the possible suspects in Piedad’s killing, saying that Piedad was a vital witness to the "fund scams" the former mayor allegedly committed.

Dulay appealed to the police to consider other motives, probably a "love triangle" or a "land dispute," behind Piedad’s killing, instead of indiscriminately linking him or dropping his name.

He, however, did not elaborate on the other probable motives, saying it is up to the police to dig deeper.

Dulay said he has been in "political isolation" since his defeat in the recent elections, attending to his family and their farm.

Piedad, who was to turn 60 last Aug. 8, was shot by two motorcycle-riding gunmen in front of his residence along Dumlao Boulevard in Barangay Salvacion here last Aug. 2. He died from two gunshot wounds.

Earlier, Senior Superintendent Felix Caddali, provincial police director, said in a report to the regional police that a former local official was being suspected as the mastermind of Piedad’s murder.

Citing initial findings, Caddali said the description of the chief accountant’s killers and their motorcycle matched those seen at the farmhouse of the former local official a few hours after the shooting.