Slay raps vs town official dropped

KORONADAL CITY — The court has dropped murder charges against a municipal administrator and three others for lack of sufficient evidence in connection with the killing of a mayoral candidate in Tampakan, South Cotabato four months ago.

Cleared by Tampakan Municipal Trial Court Judge Marie Ellingrid Baliguat were municipal administrator Bienvenido Barroso and three others known only as Tots, Norton and Pol.

But Baliguat recommended that murder charges be pursued against six people, namely Henry Barroso, Yuri Diaya, Jack Andatuan, Toy Nilong, Rudy Mangilay, Wahabin Samya Pasague and Kiram Nilong, for the July 23 killing of Gregorio Banal.

Banal ran for Tampakan mayor under the banner of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats party in the May 10 polls but lost to Claudius Barroso, Bienvenido’s father and Henry’s uncle. — Ramil Bajo