Wife of slain Sasmuan, Pampanga councilor believes politics behind murder

The widow of Sasmuan, Pampanga councilor Jesus "Boyet" Angeles believes that politics is the reason behind his murder, saying that he had gotten into an altercation with the team of one of his rivals.

According to a report on GMA's "24 Oras Weekend" on Sunday, Fely Angeles said that her husband earlier got into a heated argument during the registration period, when he alleged that the cousin of a competing politician had brought in registrants who were not from Pampanga.

"Dahil nagbitaw po ng salita 'yun, sabi niya 'Lahat tayo mamamatay,' sabing ganon," she said in the report.

"Politika lang bakit ginanyan 'yung asawa ko," she elaborated.

Angeles, who was stabbed to death while jogging on Saturday morning, had planned to run for vice mayor in the 2019 elections.

The Pampanga local police said it is reviewing CCTV footage that captured the vehicle the suspects used to flee the scene after leaving a motorbike behind.

"Sinasabi ng kaniyang pamilya 'yung kalaban niya sa pulitika," said Senior Inspector Narciso Zingalawa.

"Dine-develop pa rin namin 'yung mga ebidensya na kung siya ba, 'yung suspect na 'yun, siya talaga ang mastermind," he said.

Zingalawa said the police will also be looking at all politicians vying for spots in the upcoming elections to ensure that next year's polls will be peaceful.

"Mapapabilang sa hotspot itong Sasmuan kaya lahat ng kandidato ngayon, tinitignan din namin lahat ng background nila—kung meron ba silang kaalitan, 'pag nag-file na sila. Sabay-sabay," he said.

GMA News has tried to reach out to competing political camps for comment. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News