MALASIQUI Mayor Alfonso Soriano strongly denied insinuations he was involved in the killing of Bakitiw Barangay Captain Ruben Palaganas Wednesday.

“Please do not do that. . . correct that wrong impression” he said several times while being interviewed over Bombo Radyo Dagupan Thursday morning as he asked the radio anchor not to make any insinuations linking him to the crime.

“Inararok tan si kapitan, amta na pamilya to,” Soriano, filled with emotion, said.

He said he would never think of harming anybody much less the slain barangay head, adding that in his seven years as mayor he has not hurt anybody. “Anggapoy pinirhuesyok, tinampal, nisay pinaltik koy layag na siopaman… agko kagagawa tan,” he stressed.

Palaganas was killed some minutes after he left the municipal hall where he attended a meeting of barangay captains. He was said to have seen his wife Lilia at the office of the mayor where she works before he left.

A key witness to the killing in 2003 of barangay captain Leo Bulatao right infront of the municipal hall, Palaganas was attacked just last year but survived the first attempt on his life.

Suspects in the killing of Bulatao as well as those who tried to kill Palaganas were now in jail, it was learned.

Combined elements of the police and the National Bureau of Investigation doing the investigation have yet to identify suspects and establish the motive of the killing.

Municipal Liga ng mga Barangay federation president Alfie Soriano said he could not recall any instance Palaganas had told him about threats on his life.

He also strongly denied rumors linking his father-mayor to the killing “Sikara lay tepetan yo no panon kami ka-close nen kapitan,” the younger Soriano said referring to Palaganas’ family.

The mayor said he won by 400 votes over his rival in Bakitiw, proof that the slain barangay official was his proven leader in his barangay.