Son tags Miano as behind Mayor Pa's murder

Martinez son  Marvin (Extreme Left) fingered
 Pa's political rival for murder. Marvin and Miano run for
the vice mayoralty race of Infanta town.

Mayor Martinez: Dead

Marvin Martinez, son of slain Infanta Mayor Ruperto Martinez, firmly declared during a presscon with local media held February 28 at Consuelo Hotel in Lingayen that “Atty. Florante A. Miano, a political rival of his father, has the motive in his father’s killing.” “Ang mga ebidensya namin against Atty. Miano ay ang mga sinasabi nya nuon, mga bilin ni ama nuong buhay pa siya at merong pa kaming mga matibay na ebidenysa na hawak,” son of slain Mayor said. After the killing of Martinez, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) – Dagupan City had an investigation where Martinez family named Atty. Miano as suspect, Marvin said. However, we were surprised with the investigation of NBI – Manila which named Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. and first district Congressman Jesus Celeste as suspects to the killing, excluding Atty. Miano, Marvin said. No follow up investigation to the incident was done by NBI – Manila after Gov. Espino and Cong. Celeste were named as brains to the murder, Marvin averred. “Nakipag-appointment kami kay Gov. Espino kanina para sabihin na hindi kami naniniwala na sya ay may kagagawan sa pagpatay sa aming ama,” Marvin said, as he expressed disbelief over the investigation of NBI - Manila which linked Gov. Espino and Cong. Celeste as masterminds to the murder. The Martinez family said that the accusation hurled against Gov. Espino and Cong. Celeste is impossible because they are close political allies of the slain mayor. Councilor of Infanta town Rizalde Jimenez Bernal, a close friend of the ill-fated Mayor who stands as among the witnesses that Miano kept on sending death threats to Martinez’s life, said it is clear that “politics and the operation of pier which had been opposed by Miano were his motives for the killing.” Further, Bernal bared that on the eve of the incident around 7:25-7:30 on December 14, 2012, the Mayor called on him and said if anything happens to me “wala nang ibang gagawa kundi si Atty. Miano,” even as he reported such incident to the Infanta police the night after the mayor was killed. “Malinaw na sya (Atty. Miano) ang tumutuligsa sa operasyon ng pagtatayo ng pier at sya lang ang alam naming suspect,” young Martinez said, noting that “sya lang talaga ang may motibo para gawin ‘yun sa aming ama.” “Thankful kami kay Gov. Espino at Congressman Celeste na sila po ang tunay na tumutulong sa kasong ito at sana huwag nang gamitin ang pagkamatay ni tatay sa pulitika,”Jennifer Martinez, Daughter-In-Law of late Mayor Martinez disclosed. Crisanta Martinez, wife of the slain Mayor was also present during the presscon. Miano who is running for the vice mayoralty seat in Infanta town now faces murder raps filed by Martinez brothers (Marvin and Richard) on February 25 before the Provincial Prosecution Office in Alaminos City. – Arian Bermas