TF Pagdanganan widens investigation

MALOLOS CITY—Task Force Pagdanganan widened its investigation as the Bulacan police included the names of a female police officer and a village chairman as possible suspects, however,  a lawyer representing them denied the possibility of their involvement in the murder of ex-Calumpit mayor Ramon Pagdanganan.

As this developed, Bulacan Gov. Joselito Mendoza, in a press statement released on Monday, assured the former governor of his full support in the quest for justice, but noted “we should allow the law to take its normal course and authorities to finish investigation on the killing of ex-mayor Pagdanganan.” He added, the authorities must be given enough time to solve the crime and let those responsible be meted the corresponding punishment.

Senior Superintendent Allen Bantolo, the acting Bulacan Provincial police director told The STAR that he had already forwarded the names of the police major and the village chairman to the Task Force investigating the May 4 murder.

The police major is said to be the chief of police of Angat town who was previously assigned in San Ildefonso town, while the other possible suspect is the chairman of a barangay in the mountain town of Doña Remedios Trinidad. The village chair is a former police officer implicated in the murder of Dr. Norman Josue in 2006, but came out last year and accused ex-mayor Pagdanganan of masterminding the killing.

Bantolo said the inclusion of the two in the number of leads being investigated by Task Force Pagdanganan does not necessarily mean they are guilty. “The Task Force is considering to investigate them,” he said noting that their investigation on other angles of the case continues and remains inconclusive.

Earlier, former Bulacan Governor Roberto “Obet” Pagdanga-nan repeatedly said there is a possibility that the police officer and the barangay chairman are involved, noting that his late brother felt  his life was at stake as early as April when a Bulacan judge offered the police officer to bring back the barangay chairman to the Bulacan Provincial Jail.

As this developed, lawyer Sergio Bernabe, the legal counsel representing the police officer and the village chairman cleared their names on Monday saying there is no reason for his clients to be involved in the Pagdanganan murder.

He said, “its not true”, referring to news stories that cited possible involvement of his clients in the murder of ex-mayor Pagdanganan on May 4. “There is no reason my clients to ordered the killing because there is no argument between her and the ex-mayor,” Bernabe said.