DILG vows swift actions amid developments in Aparri vice mayor ambush

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos on Wednesday said the police would act promptly in connection with the developments in the killing of Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda and five others.

“Whatever will be the findings of the police right now, dahil nakita mo naman ang aming level of command responsibility, if you will notice mabilis umaksyon ang ating kapulisyahan, they would really act expeditiously,” Abalos told GMA News Online.

(Whatever will be the findings of the police right now, because you can see our level of command responsibility and the quick actions of our police, they would really act expeditiously.)

“Kasama na rin yan mafo-foresee na rin nila yung level ng effect nito. Yung sinasabi natin atmosphere, considering the personalities involved, kasama na rin ‘yan,” he added.

(They can foresee the level of effect from these developments. The atmosphere, considering the personalities involved, are also included.)

On Tuesday, an official from the Philippine National Police (PNP) named Aparri Mayor Bryan Dale Chan as a person of interest in the killing of Alameda.

At a Senate inquiry, Police Lieutenant Colonel Arbel Mercullo said Chan and several others associated with him were being looked at as POIs in the slaying.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo indicated that Chan was named a POI because of a possible political angle, to which Mercullo said, "Yes sir."

Tulfo and Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa proceeded to ask how the others on the list became POIs.

Mercullo said one is a bodyguard of the mayor, while the others are associated with the local chief executive.

During the hearing, Alameda’s widow Elizabeth Alameda claimed that Chan allegedly threatened people who filed cases against him, including her husband.

She also recalled that in one of Chan’s meetings, the Aparri mayor told his employees that if he was removed or suspended from his post, he would get back at the person who filed the case against him.

Chan denied the allegations and said that he did not receive any complaint filed against him with the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Wala po akong sinabi, sir,” Chan said.

(I didn't say anything, sir.)

GMA News Online is still trying to get Chan's comment as regards his being considered a person of interest in the killing.

Alameda and five others were killed when their van was ambushed by gunmen in Nueva Vizcaya in February.

The incident occurred at Sitio Kinacao, Barangay Beretbet in the municipality of Bagabag, Police Major Oscar Abrogena, police chief of Bagabag, said.

An initial investigation showed the victims were aboard a Starex van on the way to Manila when more or less six suspects fired at them, Abrogena said.

The other victims in the ambush were Alexander Agustin Delos Angeles, Alvin Dela Cruz Abel, Abraham Dela Cruz Ramos, John Duane Banag Almeda, and Ismael Nanay. —VAL, GMA Integrated News