LINGAYEN - Complaints for murder and frustrated murder were filed by the police against a suspect in connection with the slaying of a leader of a militant group, including the wounding of his brother in San Nicolas, Pangasinan last May 16.

The complaints were filed before the Provincial Prosecutor Office against Joel Flores, 28, of barangay Domampot, Asingan town who was arrested last June 1 soon after he poked a .45 cal. pistol at police agents doing surveillance work on him.

This was after it was verified that the motorcycle used by the suspects in slaying Jose Doton, 61, chairman of the Tignay Dagiti Mannalon a Mangwaya-waya (TIMMAWA) and the wounding of his brother Cancio, 57, was registered in his (Flores’) name.

Supt. Noli Taliño, chief of the intelligence and investigation branch of the Police Provincial Office, said for intimidating police agents, Flores was charged with illegal possession of firearms and attempted murder before the Regional Trial Court in Urdaneta City.

Police Provincial Director Alan Purisima told newsmen Tuesday that in both cases, Flores was able to post bond.

Taliño, upon instruction of Purisima, had the Cal. 45 pistol seized from Flores examined by the PNP Crime Laboratory.
The examination found out that the gun seized from the suspect cross-matched with the six empty shells found in the slaying of Doton and the wounding of his brother, Cancio.

The result of the verification was, however, only made available last June 6.

Flores was brought to Camp Crame last Tuesday but when he was returned to Pangasinan a few hours later, he was released by the police to his relatives upon the advise of the provincial prosecutor’s office since the legally prescribed period for his detention already lapsed.

Taliño told a local radio station they obliged to release Flores to prevent any legal complication later but he maintained that they have a strong evidence against the suspect.

He said they filed the complaints for murder and frustrated murder against Flores after a witness lined up by the police in San Nicolas town identified him to be the gunman in that shooting incident.

“We will continue to background-check Flores who was earlier identified as one of the toughies in Asingan town, if not in eastern Pangasinan.

Purisima said they can not yet consider the case solved because the motive of the killing, as well as the identity of the mastermind, have yet to be unraveled.

San Nicolas Mayor Leoncio Saldivar III said the arrest of Flores merely bolstered his suspicion that the slaying of Doton, who was his friend, may have something to do with local politics. (PNA)