BACARRA, Ilocos Norte – The police vowed to leave no stone unturned in its investigation into the cold-blooded slaying of the town mayor and a councilor here by a still unidentified assassin during the celebration night of the Bacarra Farmers’ Festival late Sunday night.

Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil in an eerie replay of a scene where he also assured the family of slain San Carlos City Mayor Julian Resuello in Pangasinan, made the pledge when he visited the remains of Bacarra Mayor Philip Velasco and Councilor Marcelo Andaya and condoled with their families on Monday morning in their respective homes.

Bataoil assured that the police will do everything they can to unravel the mystery behind the slaying in his separate talks with Mayor Velasco’s wife Ma. Concepcion, and
Andaya’s wife Eugenia.

Investigators are now also talking to the widows, including their relatives and close staff, to find out any lead on the possible motive for the slaying, including the persons who may be responsible, he said.

On order of Bataoil, a task force has been formed by Police Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Roman Felix to investigate the case and track down and arrest the other suspects, including the mastermind.

The Task Force is composed of elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), Ilocos Sur Police and the intelligence units.

Named head of the task force was Superintendent Pedro Austria, provincial officer of the CIDG in Ilocos Sur.

Bataoil said the suspect, who was not identified, was himself shot and killed by security men of Mayor Velasco.

The suspect had no identification card nor had other document in his possession. He used a Cal. 45 pistol in shooting Velasco, Andaya and the five other persons who were close to the mayor and councilor.

Wounded in the shooting spree were newly elected Provincial Board Member of the first district, Shirley Ongsin; Josefina Galapon, Josefina Bermudez, Analyn Fabillaran and Ronron Laguna, nine years old.