Three angles eyed in slay of Cagayan mayor's daughter

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines  – Cagayan police are considering three possible motives in the murder of the daughter of Gonzaga town Mayor Rosendo Abad.

Police in Cagyan’s Buguey town, where Dr. Rosefina Abad-Serrano was ambushed last April 13, said the murder could have been politically motivated, or she was mistaken for another target.

Cagayan police is also considering a robbery angle.

Serrano, 43, was the coordinator of her father’s re-election campaign. She was also the dean of the Cagayan State University.

Serrano was on her way to Gonzaga on board a passenger van when gunmen peppered the vehicle with bullets as it was passing along the national highway in Buguey’s Barangay Dalaya.

Police Chief Inspector Edward Guzman said the original assassination target could have been Buguey Councilor Antonio Tamargo, whose Starex van of the same color was following Serrano’s. 

Tamargo, a relative of Cagayan vice gubernatorial candidate Harry Tamargo, had reportedly been receiving death threats after declaring his support for the candidacy of acting Buguey mayor Licerio Antiporda III.

Antiporda, who is running for Buguey mayor, is challenging Gasat Umayam who belongs to Harry’s party.  

Cagayan Valley police chief Superintendent Roberto Damian said they have identified suspects but cannot divulge their identities until sufficient evidence linking them to the murder have been gathered.