SAN ISIDRO, Samar — A son of San Jorge town mayor in Samar province, who was implicated in the Feb 13, 2016 gunslay of a barangay chairman, accused a city mayor in western Samar and a retired army colonel as the masterminds behind the kill plot.
In his sworn statement, Francis Grey named the mayor and army colonel as the brains behind the killing of bgy chairman Romulo Bohol Baracoma. He said a suspected gun-for-hire identified as Etin Oquendo shot to death the victim using an automatic rifle.
Grey further stated that the assassination “job” was initially delegated to him but he declined due to his closeness to the target and besides, Baracoma is a family friend.
The plot, Grey said, was hatched on board a black bullet proof Land Cruiser parked at the Calbayog City Sports Complex. The vehicle is registered to the retired army officer.
Grey said the mayor, retired army officer, Oquendo, alias Rico, Jopats Lantejas and himself were all on board the vehicle finalizing the plan a day before Baracoma was slain.
After the murder, Grey leaft Samar and went into hiding. He was included as the principal suspect with his younger brother Stephen and security guard Rolando Abawag.
Grey was arrested early this month at Imus City in Cavite through the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Gandara, Samar Regional Trial Court (RTC). He was taken back to Samar where he is presently detained at the provincial jail.
Grey was assisted by IBP lawyer Cecilio Lumanteo when subjected to investigation by the local police shortly after he stepped out of the plane.
Grey said the killing of Baracoma was a case of mistaken identity. He said the original target of the assassination plot was Rolando Baracoma, younger brother of Romulo, who is into the illegal drugs business.
“Napagkamalan ni Oquendo si Romulo dahil magkamukha ang magkapatid,” Grey stated in sworned statement.
He added that the retired army officer has an axe to grind against younger Baracoma because of alleged rivalry in the illegal drugs business in San Jorge town.
Senior Supt. Nicolas Torre lll, director of Samar Provincial Police Office (SPPO), said investigators will move for the ammendment of case information filed against Oquendo et.al in the Baracoma murder and will include the mayor and the retired army officer in the complaint.
Oquendo was killed during a gunbattle with the police at San Sebastian Village in Tarlac City two years ago.