SAN ANTONIO, Nueva Ecija — Town Mayor Arvin Salonga on Monday said he has put up a PHP200,000 reward in exchange for any information that will lead to the resolution of the killing of a Sangguniang Bayan candidate here.
Salonga also asked the police to expedite investigation to make sure that justice will be given to Allan Joson, who was shot dead by a lone assassin near his residence in Purok 3, Barangay Julo here at about 4:25 p.m. Friday.
“Because the more it lasts longer, the chance to resolve the case is slim,” said Salonga, who credited Joson for his being unopposed in the forthcoming elections.
The 42-year-old Joson is running as independent based on the certificate of candidacy (COC) he had recently filed.
Salonga said Joson gave him support out of the latter’s political clout.
A special investigation task group (SITG) has been created by the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (NEPPO) to conduct a full-dressed investigation on the killing of Joson.
Senior Supt. Leon Victor Rosete, newly installed NEPPO director, said the SITG is a composite team of law enforcement agencies, including the town police, led by Chief Insp. Marlon Cudal.
Rosete said investigators are looking at the closed circuit television footage, which showed the suspect riding a single motorcycle as he fled toward the west direction of the town after the shooting.
Policemen have also gathered statements from eyewitnesses.
A former president of the federation of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials in this town, Joson was also elected Sangguniang Bayan member for three terms until 2016.
He ran for vice mayor in the 2016 election but lost by 198 votes to incumbent Vice Mayor Julie Maxwell.
Prior to filing his candidacy for a council seat, Joson served as consultant for barangay affairs to Salonga.
Joson’s wife, Catherine, said she could not think of any reason behind the murder of her husband.
“He was so kind,” she said. They have two children — a 14-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy.
Joson’s mother, Liwayway, said Allan was about to fetch his son from school when the attack happened.
“He used to fetch his son with a single motorcycle but we asked him to refrain (from doing so) since he decided to re-enter politics,” she said. “There was no actual threat on his life though.” (Marilyn Galang/PNA)
