Magarao Police Chief Slay Linked to Local Politics

NAGA CITY (21 May) -- Wednesday's shooting of the police chief of Magarao, Camarines Sur at the Central Bus Terminal (CBD-2) van and jeep terminal at Barangay Triangulo here, is being linked by police investigators to the recently concluded local elections.

In a report by Naga Police Office Chief Sr. Supt. Culver Nasol Sison to PNP Bicol director Chief Supt. Cecilio Calleja, Magarao Police Chief Insp. Angeles Casaol Balla succumbed to fatal gunshot wounds causing his death at 4:35 AM on Thurs. (May 20), while being treated at the St. John Hospital in this city.

In a report by Police Community Precinct 2, Balla was shot by two gunmen at about 4:50 AM last May 19, in front of his fastfood-eatery at CBD-2 while coddling his one-year old daughter.

The suspects shot Balla three times with a Cal. 45 pistol, while his infant daughter sustained minor injuries.

The police found at the crime scene three spent shells from Cal. 45 pistol; meanwhile the suspects were earlier seen to have fled in tandem in a motorcycle with an unknown plate number.

It was reported that Police Precinct 2 Commander, PSI Benigno F. Albao Sr. had rushed Balla to the Mother Seton Hospital minutes after the shooting incident.

At the Camarines Sur Police Office, PPO Spokesperson SPO 4 Romulo Pabiano revealed that Balla was supposed to appear in an inquiry of the Provincial Investigation Detection Management Branch of the PPO for an administrative complaint of "Grave Misconduct" and partisan political activity, filed by Magarao Mayor Nelson Julia.

Pabiano said Balla was summoned for the inquiry on the complaint of Mayor Julia scheduled on Thursday, a day after the police chief was shot by gunmen.

The police spokesman also said that Mayor Julia's complaint stemmed from the police chief's alleged campaigning for rival mayoral candidate and now elected mayor, Salvador "Bading" Señar (NP) during the election and alleged tolerance of massive vote buying activities even on the town's main streets on election day.

Pabiano bared that based on the  PPO Police Journal dated May 11, a barangay councilor and six other young voters have complained that "padyak" drivers and Señar's leaders were bringing them to the candidate's residence, where voters  were given P1,000 pesos each and marked with ink on the index finger.

Sources at the Naga Police Office Investigation section also revealed that earlier Balla had arrested Julia's alleged leaders for carrying firearms during the election gun ban.

An earlier incident was also reported that Balla initiated the closure of a local cockpit-arena operated by the mayor's brother for lack of license.

The Magarao Mayor had reportedly responded by withdrawing logistics and material support from local police and the police chief. (SONNY SALES)