Vice mayor’s killers also involved in 2 other slays

The killers of the vice mayor of Lumban, Laguna in an ambush Thursday were guns-for-hire also believed behind the slayings of a prominent lawyer and a town mayor years back, police said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., Laguna police director, said a police artist sketch of the triggerman in the ambush-killing of Lumban Vice Mayor Zaldy Raga, 48, resembled the suspect in the slayings of lawyer Clarence Agarao and the mayor of Mabitac town several years ago.

“The suspects were guns-for-hire,” said Rojas as he appealed to the public to help probers identify and arrest Raga’s killers.

Rojas could not recall whether the cases of Agarao and the Mabitac mayor were solved, but he promised to do his utmost to go after the killers of Raga.

The artist sketch was drawn based on the description provided by Raga’s wife, Belen, and two barangay officials who witnessed the incident.

The witnesses described the triggerman as having a slim build and dark complexion, about 35 to 40 years old, about 5’6” and 5’9’ tall, wearing a black cap and jacket, and armed with a caliber .45 pistol.

The witnesses, according to Rojas, were about two meters away from the triggerman.

Rojas said they are eyeing politics in the ambush-slaying of Raga.

“We are pursuing the political angle,” he said, admitting though that they still have no evidence to pin down any politician in Raga’s death.

Rojas said Raga was well loved in his town. “He was a law-abiding citizen and had no known enemies,” he said.

“He spent less money in the last election but was elected overwhelmingly by the populace because he was loved by them,” he said.

Rojas said Raga served as acting mayor last week when Mayor Wilfredo Paraiso went abroad for an official business.

During Raga’s stint as acting mayor, Rojas said he initiated the arrest of drug pushers and users and went after illegal gambling operations.

“His no-nonsense drive against illegal drugs and illegal gambling is also being looked into by our investigators,” he said.

Rojas said Paraiso is cooperating fully in their effort to solve the case. “He is also after the speedy solution of the case,” he said.

Raga and his wife were on board an Isuzu Highlander on their way to Sta. Cruz City when they were waylaid along the national road in Barangay Sampaloc in Pagsanjan town at around 7:45 a.m. Thursday.

Although wounded, Raga, a gun enthusiast, managed to pull out his caliber .45 pistol and engaged the ambushers in a shootout.

Witnesses claimed that Raga managed to hit the triggerman who fled with his companion on a motorcycle toward Barangay Dinggin.

Rojas said they were looking into reports that armed men on board a stainless jeep acted as lookouts in the ambush.

Aside from his caliber .45 pistol, Rojas said Raga was also carrying a caliber 9-mm pistol that he failed to use during the attack.

Police found 12 spent caliber .45 shells at the ambush scene.

Belen said her husband had received death threats through his cellular phone prior to the incident.

After hearing the initial burst of gunfire, Raga embraced Belen, who managed to have a clear view of the triggerman’s face.

Rojas said the gunman was just two meters away from Belen and she could remember very well the triggerman’s facial features.

Laguna Gov. Teresita Lazaro offered a P200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Raga’s killers.