Ex-Isabela exec accused of murder also running

SANTIAGO CITY – A former mayor of this Isabela city, who has a pending murder case for the 1996 killing of two youths, is seeking the mayoral post which he had held for more than a decade.

Former mayor Jose Miranda, who has pending warrant of arrest from the Manila regional trial court (RTC) for the burning to death of Elizer Tuliao and Vicente Bauzon, formally filed his certificate of candidacy with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office here last Friday.

He said his victory would somehow vindicate him in the case filed against him and three others, including two police officers.

"I filed my candidacy for the mayoralty post for the people of Santiago City to be the judge of the crime our political adversaries had concocted to pin me down. The Santiagueños know better whether I am capable of doing such a dastard crime or not. They will be the ultimate judge," he said.

Miranda, who lost to Mayor Amelita Navarro in the 2004 elections, has a pending arrest warrant issued by Judge Augusto Gutierrez of Manila RTC Branch 47 which is hearing the double murder case against him after the Supreme Court denied his motion to nullify the warrant.

Anytime soon, the Manila RTC, which suspended the arrest order on June 8 last year, would re-issue and execute Miranda’s arrest warrant as a result of the High Court ruling.

Instead of filing another motion to stop the re-issuance of the arrest order which was nullified in 2003 only to be restored in April 2006 by Santiago City Judge Anastacio Anghad, Miranda filed an omnibus motion seeking the Manila RTC’s immediate action on his arrest.

His immediate arrest, according to Miranda, would allow him a speedy trial to eventually clear his name.

Miranda also asked the Manila RTC to grant his petition to be placed under police custody while his case is pending due to health reasons and imminent threats to his life.

Besides Miranda, also charged in the double murder case are police officers Alberto Dalmacio and Romeo Ocon. Another accused, Rodel Maderal, turned state witness.

Maderal tagged Miranda as the alleged mastermind of the killing. He, however, recanted his testimony and cleared the former mayor of any involvement in the crime, prompting Anghad to nullify the arrest order in 2003 only to restore it three years later upon the Supreme Court’s orders.