Capiz board member maintains innocence in Tapaz killings
Board Member Ronaldo Exmundo of the second district of Capiz is maintaining his innocence on the brutal murder of Tapaz Vice Mayor Victor Gardose and two others although his driver-bodyguard was tagged by the police as the triggerman.
Twenty-eight year old Noel Fuentespina of Brgy. Calag-itan, Lambunao, Iloilo was presented to the media last Monday as one of the three suspects who killed Gardose and his two companions Antonio Gequillo, and punong barangay Leonardo Jimeno of Brgy. Carida, Tapaz.
Task Force Gardose head Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Rafal said witnesses pointed to Fuentespina and another suspect as the gunmen while another one served as a look out. The two other suspects are still being hunted by the police.
Rafal however said that Fuentespina's arrest Friday last week was related to his pending two warrants for murder and frustrated murder at Branch 27 of the Regional Trial Court, Ramon Q. Avanceña Hall of Justice.
Earlier, the police theoried that the killings could be politically-motivated.
Before his death Gardose has declared his plan to run for mayor of Tapaz. Board Member Exmundo is rumored to also run for the position replacing his cousin, the incumbent mayor Romualdo Exmundo, whose term is ending.
Board Member Exmundo, in an interview with dyRI RMN Iloilo yesterday said he was surprised when he heard the arrest of his driver-bodyguard.
“I did not know that he has criminal records. I've known him as a kind and quiet person,” Exmundo said.
The board member clarified that when the crime happened on December 30, 2006 Fuentespina was on vacation.
Exmundo has since repeatedly denied connection to the killings, stressing that Gardose was a relative and that they have good relations.
“The people of Tapaz know our family. We don't have any record of violence when it comes to politics,” Exmundo said.
“I'm also saddened with what happened and for sure this will affect my future political plans. Right now, I'm even contemplating not to go on with my plan to run for mayor of Tapaz,” he added.
Rafal said the politically-motivated killing is almost solved.
At press time yesterday they are readying charges of multiple murder against Fuentespina and three other unidentified suspects.
Rafal said they could not yet pinpoint the mastermind of the crime but they are sure that Fuentespina and the three other suspects were merely hired to conduct the execution.
Meanwhile, PO3 Danilo Gelilang, the bodyguard of Mayor Exmundo, is still restricted in the Capiz Provincial Police Office undergoing investigation into his possible involvement in the killing.
The latest arrest follows the putting up of a P800,000-cash reward for whoever gives information leading to the identification and arrest of the killers of Tapaz Vice Mayor Victor Gardose and two others.
Governor Vicente Bermejo, Tapaz Mayor Romualdo Exmundo, the Tapaz municipal council, and the members of the business community contributed funds to come up with the reward money.
Gardose, his bodyguard Gequillo, and punong barangay Jimeno were shot dead as they were alighting from the vice mayor's owner-type jeep at around 7 p.m. last December 30.
Two men on a motorcycle followed the victims to the civic center of Barangay Taft. A masked gunman approached the victims and shot them at close range.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has also conducted a separate investigation as per request made by Mayor Exmundo.