Police face blank wall on Batangas mayor’s slay

Batangas – Police investigating the slay case of a town mayor here is now in quandary after the family of the victim refused to cooperate in the ongoing probe and decided to turn-over the case apparently into the hands of God.

“Bahala na daw ang Diyos sa kanila,” a police officer who requested anonymity told The Star as he quoted Ludivina, the wife of Balete town mayor David Pamplona. 

Pamplona, 50, was killed in an ambush on Feb. 13 in Malvar town here when at least three armed men with        M-16 rifles waylaid them along the highway at Barangay Bulihan, a few meters away from the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road toll exit around 9:10 a.m.

The police officer expressed disappointment on Mrs. Pamplona’s decision not to file a complaint, citing that he was about to crack the case after a series of leads have cropped up that could  possibly point to the mastermind. 

“May mga suspek na kami na dapat masampahan ng kaso pero ayaw naman nang magreklamo ni Mrs. Pamplona,” the police officer told The Star in an interview adding that they cannot act on the case without the participation of a complainant.

Task Group Pamplona was formed specifically to handle and resolve the case as soon as possible. The group comprises investigators from Malvar police, Batangas Provincial Police Office and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). 

The Star source said the probers are eyeing on politics, work related and personal motives as the possible reason for the killing of the Batangas mayor. 

“Mayor Pamplona could have possibly earned the ire of a disgruntled employee, or a politician eyeing the 2010 election or from a businessman that the mayor earlier turned down for personal request” the police official said but refused to elaborate.

The police official said that he already talked and tried to convince Mrs. Pamplona to file a case against the suspects but to no avail. 

“Naniniwala sila (Pamplonas) sa itinuturo naming mga suspek pero ayaw naman nilang maki-cooperate,” the official said. 

The mastermind on the slay case, the police said, had definitely hired the services of a gun-for-hire syndicate. “Kilala na rin namin ang grupong ginamit ng mastermind na nagsimula lang na maliit na grupo dito sa Batangas,” the police officer said.

“Wala kaming magagawa kung ayaw nilang mag-demanda pero baka naman mamiss-interpret na naman ang pulis na wala na namang ginagawang aksyon sa kasong ito,” the police official said. 

Despite Pamplona ’s uncooperative stance, the police will continue to gather evidences on the murder incident in case the family changes their minds, the probers said. 

“Umaasa pa rin kaming magbabago ang isip ng pamilyang Pamplona para mag­karoon ng closure ang kasong ito,” the police officer said. 

Also wounded in the ambush were Pamplona ’s driver, Jerson Diokno, househelper Jonalyn Gonzalez and a certain Marilyn Pagayunan, who were all treated at Daniel O. Mercado Medical Center in Tanauan City, Batangas for bullet wounds. 

Pamplona’s adopted daughter Lorelyn, 23 escaped unscathed. 

Pamplona’s group was bound for Manila aboard a Nissan Exalta (SFZ-219) when they were waylaid along the highway at Barangay Bulihan. The suspects fled onboard an unlicensed car towards unknown direction.  

Pamplona, a member of the Lakas-CMD, was serving his last term as Balete town mayor when he was killed.