Politics eyed in Capiz vice mayor slay

Police are considering politics as one of the possible motives for the killing of Mambusao Vice Mayor Abel Martinez in Capiz on Friday.

“Dahil vice mayor siya (Martinez), nandun ‘yung politics, last term na niya (Martinez) kasi as vice mayor, baka tatakbo siyang mayor,” Senior Supt. Domingo Cabillan, Capiz Provincial Police director, said in a phone interview.

Martinez, a member of President Benigno Aquino III’s Liberal Party, is on his third term as vice mayor and is reportedly being groomed to run for the mayoralty race next year. He previously served as a provincial board member of Capiz for nine years.

Cabillan, however, admitted that the political angle was not yet definite so investigators are also looking into other possible motives.

“Wala pa tayong specific angle na tinututukan dito… maari din ‘yung sa negosyo niya (Martinez), agawan sa lupa, or yung trabaho niya as a doctor,” he said.

“Mayroon tayong possible witnesses pero ayaw talagang mag-cooperate,” Cabillan said, adding that the assailant was “most probably a hired killer.”

Cabillan and other police officials of Western Visayas were in Iloilo City Saturday for a conference with PNP chief Dir. Gen. Nicanor Bartolome, who was on a visit to the regional police headquarters. (John Roson)

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Vice mayor gunned down in Capiz

An unidentified gunman shot to death the vice mayor of Mambusao, Capiz, in front of his home early Friday, police said.

Vice Mayor Abel Martinez, 79, suffered five bullet wounds on his face and body, Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, Western Visayas regional police director, said.

The incident occurred around 6 a.m., while Martinez was standing outside his home along Rizal st., Brgy. Poblacion.

Martinez was speaking with a retired policeman when the lone gunman approached, shot the official at close range, and walked towards Consolacion st., where he boarded a motorcycle which was later seen speeding towards Jamindan.

Martinez was immediately brought to the Mambusao Hospital, where he expired later, Querol said.

Local authorities are still tracking down the assailant as of this writing.

A special investigation task group was also created to conduct a deeper probe into the killing.

Inspector Samuel Vipinosa, Mambusao Police chief, said there was no death threat against Martinez before the incident.

However, he did not discount the possibility that the killing was related to Martinez’s work. (John Roson)

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