Mayor's bodyguard quizzed for death of Vice Mayor, two others in Tapaz
Police have taken into custody the policeman-bodyguard of Mayor Romualdo Exmundo of Tapaz town in Capiz for the shooting of Vice Mayor Victor Gardose and two others last week.
At the same time, the Task Force Gardose said that politics is emerging as the likely motive for the killing of Gardose, his bodyguard Anton Gequillo and Karida barangay head Leonardo Jimeno last Saturday evening in Brgy. Taft.
The three were riddled with bullets fired at close range by a bonnet-wearing gunman armed with a .45 cal. Pistol as they were alighting from Gardose's owner-type vehicle to attend the coronation at the civic center.
Gardose is said to be eyeing the mayoralty post against the brother of Exmundo, who is on his third term already.
Task Force head, Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Rafal said yesterday that Police Officer 3 Danilo Gelilang has already been restricted to quarters at the Capiz Provincial Police Office. He will be prosecuted for possessing an unlicensed .45 caliber pistol, which was tested positive for gunpowder residues.
Rafal said that Gelilang is now considered a suspect in the killing, although he added that guns for hire are also involved.
"The motive is politics. Our investigation is proceeding towards that direction. PO3 Gelilang is a suspect and we are digging deeper into his possible role," the task force head said.
"We will file (a) case for illegal possession of against PO3 Danilo Gelilang, bodyguard of the mayor of Tapaz. His cal. 45 firearm is not issued by the PNP and allegedly borrowed from a military man. The firearm, when submitted to crimelab, was found positive of gunpowder residues," Rafal said.
According to reports, witnesses saw Gelilang at the scene of the crime, although Exmundo was in Manila at the time.