CCTV pins murder of mayor on NPA rebels

From the Manila Standard Today (Apr 30): CCTV pins murder of mayor on NPA rebels

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan —The murder of Gonzaga Mayor Carlito Pentecostes last Monday was recorded by a closed-circuit television camera and the killers have been identified, Cagayan Valley police director, Chief Supt. Migueld Laurel said.

He said David Soriano, second in command of the New People’s Army (NPA) Northern Front Committee, shot dead the mayor as he was about to deliver a speech during a flag ceremony, and his back up was identified as Rolando Ibis.

“The hard drive of the CCTV camera has been brought to Manila for decoding,” Laurel said.

The two gunmen walked up to the mayor after the singing of the national anthem and one of them shot him several times in front of the crowd. A total of 30 guerrillas were involved and many of them were posted in various parts of the municipal grounds.

But the Pentecostes family believed the mayor was ordered killed by his political enemies. They rejected claims the mayor was killed because he allowed black sand mining in Gonzaga.

Three days after the killing, the NPA West Cagayan Front issued a statement admitting responsibility for the killing and NPA spokesperson Ester Falcon said the mayor was found guilty of spying and aiding the military in their operations against the rebels.

The Gonzaga municipal council has declared a state of mourning in the town and  the municipal government cancelled the town’s annual fiesta on May 12 to 16.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/04/30/cctv-pins-murder-of-mayor-on-npa-rebels/