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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Assassination try on La Union execs triggers tension

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An employee of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology was linked to the attempted murder of an executive assistant of La Union Governor Francisco Emmanuel R. Ortega III, adding to the tense situation in the province following the discovery of a plot to assassinate a congresswoman and two town mayors.

In a police incident report filed with La Union Police Provincial Office in San Fernando on July 25, Justino F. Casuga, executive assistant of the governor, filed an attempted murder complaint against Jail Officer 1 Juanito A. Estrebor II, a prison guard assigned in Quezon City Jail who was found roaming with a firearm near the complainant’s home.

Initial investigation showed that Casuga previously reported that his life was under threat from an unidentified male roaming near his place and requested for temporary security from the PNP.  The police report said that on July 25 at 4 p.m., Casuga arrived at his home from a personal meeting and upon alighting from his vehicle was approached by the suspect who had a firearm but quickly turned back upon seeing the two PNP security aides.

The suspect was confronted and arrested by Casuga’s security personnel. The case is now under investigation.

Anti-crime group Crusaders for Peace said, in a statement, the case heightened the tense situation in the province and bolstered suspicion that a gun-for-hire group composed of rogue police and military personnel was hired to assassinate political leaders in La Union.

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A former police colonel and alleged leader of the Magpali gun-for-hire group surrendered to the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame on July 26.

Dismissed police colonel Wilson Magpali, who is accused as the leader of the syndicate, turned himself to police officials after President Rodrigo Duterte earlier told PNP Ilocos Region to “get the head” of the Magpali gang which was reportedly hired by some unscrupulous politicians to harass or liquidate political figures ahead of the 2022 elections.

President Duterte issued the order in response to the appeal of the people of La Union who disclosed an alleged assassination plot against a lawmaker and two mayors in the province.  La Union police earlier uncovered the plot following the arrest of several members of the Magpali assassination squad over another killing incident.

Police confiscated from the suspects’ vehicle several high-powered firearms, ammunition, bullet vests, two-way radios, cellphones, back packs and other items.  Police also discovered that the group had other safe houses located in three towns of La Union which was rented by Magpali.

A police intelligence report said Magpali received a P2-million down payment to hatch the assassination plot.

The police is investigating if the same group was responsible for the 2018 slaying of Balaoan Vice Mayor Alfred Concepcion on November 14; Sudipen Mayor Alexander Buquing on October 1; and former Second District Rep. Franny Eriguel on May 12.  Those killings remain unresolved to this day.

Rep. Sandra Eriguel, widow of Franny Eriguel, is now the primary target of the Magpali gang, according to the intelligence report.  Sandra Eriguel and the two other alleged targets of the gang are allies of Governor Ortega.

Crusaders for Peace said the discovery of the plot and the latest attempt on the life of Governor Ortega’s executive assistant are proof that a gun-for-hire group was trying to replicate the 2018 killings in La Union.

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