Eriguel slay: Suspect may turn state witness

AGOO, La Union, Philippines — Probers handling the investigation of the murder of former La Union congressman Eufranio Eriguel are looking at the possibility of turning an arrested suspect into a witness in order to speed up the resolution of the case.

Felizardo Villanueva, a defeated candidate for barangay chairman, reportedly served as a lookout during the killing, according to Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Tamondong, chief of the investigation and detective management division of the Police Regional Office I.

The victim’s widow, Rep. Sandra Eriguel, said they would likely agree to a plan of making Villanueva state witness.

She said Villanueva could lead authorities to the mastermind in the murder of her husband.

Villanueva is detained at the La Union provincial jail.

Eriguel was addressing candidates of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections when he was killed by masked men in Barangay Capas in Agoo on May 12.

His two body guards tried to shield him, but they two were killed.

Eriguel’s wife was in a car parked nearby during the killing.