16 face charges for 2007 slay of Pangasinan mayor, bodyguard

SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines – This city’s acting prosecutor has recommended the filing of double murder and multiple frustrated murder charges against 16 people, including a former mayor, for the 2007 killing of Mayor Julian Resuello and his bodyguard.

In a 14-page resolution, prosecutor Paulyn Maurie de la Cruz Aquino granted the motion filed by Mayor Julier Resuello, son of the slain mayor, and Task Force Resuello and reversed the earlier resolution of second assistant city prosecutor Reynaldo Lacasandile recommending the dismissal of the charges against Douglas Soriano, et al.

Aquino recommended the filing of a criminal information for double murder and multiple frustrated murder against Soriano, Loida Mendoza, lawyer Monte Ignacio Sr., Sammy Mendoza, Jay-Ar Maiquez, Rudy Melano, Montesson Ignacio Jr., Joel Ginez, Pablito Viernes, John Tumabcao, Rodolfo de la Cruz, Rommel de la Peña, Sonny Echalas, Rowena Viernes Mendoza, Reynaldo Mendoza, and Ka Nora.

Based upon the evidence, Aquino said there is probable cause “to believe that all of the herein respondents conspired with each other and acted in concert with Angelito Mamaril and Cesar Cabesa de Guzman to commit the crimes complained of.”

Mayor Julier Resuello was elated over the prosecutor’s recommendation, but expressed dismay why they were not furnished a copy of the resolution until yesterday.

He said they were able to get a copy of the resolution on their own initiative after receiving information about it from a reliable source only the other day. 

While waiting for a copy from the court, he said they learned that one of the accused, Loida Mendoza, already filed on Aug. 24 a motion for judicial determination of probable cause, asking that an arrest warrant, if issued prior to the hearing of her motion, be recalled and quashed.

The elder Resuello was gunned down on April 28, 2007 while shaking hands with his constituents during the coronation night of Miss San Carlos at the public auditorium. His security aide, Eulogio Martinez, was also killed.

Wounded in the attack were SPO1 Jaime Almoite, Jonathan de la Cruz, Arwin Fermin, and Angelito Soriano, alleged to be one of the hit men.