P’sinan publisher tagged in town mayor’s slay shot

STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan, Philippines – The publisher of a local newspaper, named co-accused in last December’s killing of Infanta town Mayor Ruperto Martinez, was shot and wounded by three men on board a motorcycle here yesterday morning, authorities said. Three suspects were subsequently arrested.

In a report, Senior Superintendent Marlou Chan, provincial police director, said the victim, Jaime Aquino, 45, publisher of Northern Star, was being treated at the Villaflor Hospital in Dagupan City for a bullet wound in the back.

Police said Aquino was reading a newspaper in a waiting shed in Barangay Minien West here when he was shot. He managed to run to his car parked 10 meters away to get his gun but his attackers had fled.

Aquino is a co-respondent in the Martinez murder case filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and first district Rep. Jesus Celeste.

Chief Inspector Giovanni Mangonon, Sta. Barbara police chief, told The STAR that his men recovered two empty shells, a slug and a live bullet of .45 caliber at the crime scene. 

Mangonon added that his men also retrieved two short firearms – a .45-caliber pistol and 9-mm pistol – from Aquino’s car and they were registered under his name. 

Mangonon identified the three arrested suspects as a certain Berosel of Malasiqui town; Jerry Aquino, 42, of Barangay Luyan, Mapandan town; and William Garcia, 27, of Bautista town. – With Cesar Ramirez