Wheel of Justice Begins to Grind

LAOAG CITY (Nov. 6)— In quick response to the snowballing clamor for justice related to the recent separate assassinations of two prominent officials in Ilocos Norte, the local police and the prosecutor’s office have jointly indicted ten suspects in the said the twin murder cases.

Police investigators under police provincial director Senior Supt. Marlou Chan had formally filed with the provincial prosecutor’s office murder charges against seven persons tagged as alleged suspects in the October gunslay of Currimao town councilor Estela Vidad.

The lady municipal legislator was shot and killed inside her grocery store located at her poblacion residence.

Probers theorized that victim Vidad had apparently gained the ire of her detractors for having allegedly supported some local candidates in May polls and village elections.

Simultanesouly charged before the prosecutor’s office under chief provincial prosecutor Melecio Felipe were the three suspects in the October ambush-slay of Adams municipal treasurer Elpidio Sy.

Sy, who hailed from Pagudpud town, was en route to his office in the nearby upland town of Adams aboard a motorcycle as back rider, when gunmen waylaid him.

His driver was unhurt. His conflicting testimonies about Sy’s death put him in hot water as police investigators doubted his statement.

The driver later defended himself saying he had a confused mind and still under state of shock when he gave statements to the media and police probers shortly after the shooting incident.

Chief prosecutor Felipe immediately assigned the two murder cases to the battery of assistant provincial prosecutors under his direct supervision.

Independent observers said they hope the assigned fiscals would study well the evidence presented and come out with resolutions that would be credible to all concerned parties.

The wheel of justice begins to grind for the two slain officials as the lawmen had indicted the suspected culprits in the twin murder that rocked the province, the observers said.

We hope those criminally charged, the observers added, are not “fall guys”. In case, they are wrong persons tagged by mistake by witnesses, then the real culprits would remain scot-free rejoicing to high heaven, they said. #