DAGUPAN CITY – A defeated vice mayoral candidate in the Pangasinan city of San Carlos now fears for his life after an apparently bogus tabloid circulated, quoting him as allegedly saying that Gov. Victor Agbayani and a former city mayor masterminded last month’s killing of Mayor Julian Resuello.
Harry Cagampan sought the help of the media yesterday to clear his name as he vehemently denied saying such a thing, much more having been interviewed by any reporter.
Pangasinan journalists were not aware of the tabloid named Palaban, saying it was their first time to come across it.
The tabloid claimed that Cagampan, supposedly bothered by his conscience, revealed to two of its reporters that Agbayani and former San Carlos City mayor Douglas Soriano masterminded Resuello’s killing.
Resuello was shot dead last April 28 inside the city auditorium while he was shaking hands with residents attending the city’s fiesta celebration.
Although he knew the tabloid was “fake and bogus,” Cagampan said he was forced to come out nonetheless because he and his family were alarmed by the consequences of such a report.
He said somebody photocopied the tabloid and distributed the copies in the market, schools, offices and residences three days ago.
“Kaya na-alarma ako kasi buhay ko at ng aking pamilya ang nakataya dito (So I was alarmed because my life as well as my family’s are at stake here),” he said.
He said many of his supporters, friends and relatives called him up after reading the tabloid. “Nakaka-alarma na ito (This is already alarming)” he said.
The tabloid alleged that Agbayani had a quarrel with Resuello because the latter allegedly opted to support another gubernatorial bet and not the governor’s wife.
Resuello and the Sorianos were bitter political enemies. Cagampan, a former vice mayor of Resuello, had become ally of the Sorianos.