Police: No foul play in Cagayan town bet’s death

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Police have ruled out foul play in last Friday’s death of a businessman running for municipal councilor in Santa Ana, Cagayan.

Senior Inspector Emil Pajarillo, Santa Ana police chief, said that based on findings of scene of the crime operatives (SOCO), Jean Marie Ponce, 23, died as a result of accidental firing while he was cleaning his .40-caliber pistol. 

“It appears that Ponce was in the process of removing the bullets from his gun and stooped down to get something when it suddenly went off,” said Pajarillo, quashing speculations that Ponce committed suicide or was killed.

“Besides, no records of instances that Ponce had a grudge with anybody or threats from someone to consider that there was a possibility of foul play,” he said. 

Ponce is a younger brother of provincial board member Alphonse Jean Ponce, who is running for Santa Ana mayor. Both are sons of Cagayan Economic Zone Authority administrator Jose Mari Ponce.

Pajarillo said findings of SOCO personnel showed that the bullet pierced through the right side of the head above the ear, contrary to earlier findings that the entry point was above the left ear.

“The earlier findings were made by the municipal physician immediately after the incident,” Pajarillo said.

Ponce was found dead on a sofa in the boardroom at the second floor of the Phoenix gas station which he managed, adjacent to another family-owned meat shop and call center in the town’s Santa Cruz village. 

Police said they were still verifying if Ponce’s gun was licensed.