By BEHN FER. HORTALEZA, JR.

LINGAYEN — The killer of San Carlos City Mayor Julian Resuello may be the same hired gun who killed Vice Mayor Adolfo Aquino of Mapandan in 2005.

This conclusion strongly surfaced after police ballistics experts cross-matched the slugs and empty shells found at the San Carlos city plaza where Resuello was gunned down with those recovered at the crime scene in Mapandan when the town’s vice mayor was also similarly slain and found these to be the same. .

PNP chief Director-General Oscar Calderon, citing the police
ballistics findings, himself voiced this possibility during last Thursday’s media presentation of Angelito Soriano, the first arrested suspect in the killing of Mayor Julian Resuello.

Aquino, the slain Mapandan vice mayor, was leaving the town hall premises in the late afternoon after the week’s municipal council session when he stopped to greet a friend. The gunman, who had apparently, been waiting, crossed the street to where the town official was standing and pumped several bullets on him.

The killer then casually walked towards the nearby cemetery lot where he lost himself, according to some people who tried to run after the killer but fell back when the assailant, sensing the pursuit, fired at them.

Caderon said double murder and multiple frustrated murder charges have been filed against Soriano, the first of several suspects arrested in connection with the Resuello slaying and Cesar de Guzman, alias “Kabesa ”, a former househelp of the Sorianos who is still being hunted. Two John Does who allegedly acted as “look-outs”during the shooting were among those accused.

A reward money of P500,000 was raised for any information that will lead to the arrest of the other suspects

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Julier Resuello, the slain mayor’s son, was sworn in Wednesday as city mayor. Number one Councilor Elpidio Fermin, Jr. was sworn in as vice-mayor while the mayor’s other son, Joseres, was named to the vacated councilor seat.

Julier is running for mayor under Lakas-CMD, while his brother Joseres substituted for the slain city executive as vice mayoral candidate uder the same party.