Capiz dad wants colleague's name cleared in death of solon's aide
ROXAS CITY – A member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), during yesterday's regular session, called on a colleague, whose name was mentioned in the affidavit of the lone witness in the killing of Art Cruz, to have his name cleared.
Board Member Fritz Cruz Am in a privilege speech said that Board Member Gilbert Ardivilla was mentioned in the affidavit of the lone witness which is so damaging.
“I would like to help our colleague clear his name, by that means, we will be clearing our names as collective body, too,” Cruz Am said.
Cruz Am said at the latter portion of the witness' affidavit it was stated that one of the suspects mentioned the name of Board Member Ardivilla while talking to Cruz.
Cruz Am asked clarification from Ardivilla, but when presiding officer Board Member Nonoy Contreras called for a recess, Ardivilla no longer came back to the session hall prompting the presiding officer to adjourn the session since the remaining board members can no longer constitute quorum.
Meanwhile, Ardivilla was not reached for comment regarding the Cruz Am privilege speech and about his walk-out during the session.
Earlier, Ardivilla delivered a privilege speech regarding his opposition to the proposed loan by the provincial government in the amount of P250 million pesos for the construction of Business Center near the provincial park.
Last Tuesday, three persons were charged for murder by the Roxas City police in connection with the killing of Art Cruz, political officer of 1st District Cong. Antonio del Rosario. Charged were Glendofer Beup, blocktimer mediaman and municipal administrator of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo; Engr. Ethel Morales, project engineer of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 1st engineering district, and a certain Rand.
City Prosecutor Erwin Ignacio has formed a special team of prosecutors to conduct a preliminary investigation on the said case namely: 4th Assistant City Prosecutor James V. Advincula and 4th Assistant City Prosecutor Fernald H. Jornales.
A lone lady witness said in her two-page sworn affidavit that Beup, Morales and a certain Rand were having a heated altercation with Cruz along the Boulevard on May 7. She heard several explosions when she left the scene of incident and later she learned that Cruz was already dead.