ILOILO City – Was the assassination of Councilor Plaridel Nava’s cousin Mercedes Nava related to illegal drugs? According to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), the 65-year-old victim was not in its watch list of suspected drug personalities.
“We rigidly reviewed all the names of drug personalities in the region and Mercedes Nava was not in the list either as drug protector or drug pusher,” said Superintendent Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson.
Nava, a resident of Mejorada Street, Barangay Oñate De Leon, Mandurriao district, was shot by two masked motorcycle-riding gunmen in Barangay Calajunan, Mandurriao on Jan. 4 – a style of assassination similar to what were done to several drug personalities here.
“She had no record on illegal drugs,” said Malong.
As of this writing, investigators were still trying to establish the killers’ motive.
On Jan. 7, policemen arrested two security aides of Councilor Nava – Roy Delos Reyes, 42, of Barangay West Timawa, Molo district and brother Rey Julius, 34.
Two witnesses positively identified the Delos Reyeses, according to Chief Inspector Marlon Valencia, police chief of Mandurriao.
Councilor Nava, however, insisted on his men’s innocence and urged the police to explore all possible angles. He also said probers must also look into Mercedes’ background. She faced many court cases such as estafa and violation of Batas Pambansa 22, he said.
The Delos Reyes brothers were detained at the Manduriao police station.
Last month, Mercedes claimed that the signature campaign against Panay Electric Company was littered with forgeries. She said she and a group of persons were tapped for the campaign.
Nava said the police should endeavor to trace who backed his cousin up into making the allegation.
“Who instigated or financed her? I believe these are the very same people who had her killed. Ina nga anggulo dapat tan-awon sang pulis,” said Nava./PN
