BACOLOD City – Councilor Agustin “Nene” Grande III of Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental denied he is behind the assassination of reelectionist Councilor Jose Antonio “Michael” Garcia. He called this, among other allegations, a “big lie.”
“I did not commit any crime, especially murder,” stressed Grande.
Michael Garcia and his uncle former Association of Barangay Captains party-list president Jose Marcelino “Mark” Garcia were ambushed by around 20 armed men while they were on board a pickup truck from a campaign sortie in Barangay Inolingan, Moises Padilla around 11 a.m. on April 25.
Grande, who also seeks reelection, said he was campaigning with his party mates in Barangay Magallon Cadre, Moises Padilla when the ambush happened.
They were in the village from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day, he added.
This is contrary to the statement of Marijo Garcia, who – in her complaint-affidavit – said Grande was seen talking to a group of men in Barangay Inolingan before the ambush.
Grande was among those who filed a case against Mark Garcia over the latter’s alleged illegal quarry operation in Moises Padilla in 2018.
Last March, he also filed a murder case against Moises Padilla vice mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, Adrian Ian Villaflor and Moises Padilla councilor Morito Flores over the death of his younger brother Magdaleno “Nonong” Grande on May 1, 2016.
Grande said he only filed the murder case this year because a witness just recently surfaced.
Michael Garcia was a nephew of Garcia-Yulo. Mark Garcia, on the other hand, is Garcia-Yulo’s brother.
Grande also denied he is extorting money from agrarian reform beneficiaries in Moises Padilla. He stressed that his transloading business does not abuse small-time sugarcane planters in the violence-stricken town.
The councilor also dismissed the allegation that he is involved in killing Jerry Turga, whom he said he had given help during the May 2016 elections.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has placed Moises Padilla under “Category Red,” which means the town is an “area of grave concern” in view of the May 13, 2019 midterm elections.
The town has a history of election-related violence and intense political rivalry. There is also a serious threat from the New People’s Army and other armed groups in the municipality, according to the Comelec.
Michael Garcia was the second town official killed in Moises Padilla during this campaign period.
The first one was Councilor Jolomar Hilario, who was also seeking reelection. He was gunned down by suspected NPA rebels on March 31 at his residence in Barangay Inolingan.
On April 27, 150 soldiers were deployed to ensure the peace and order situation in Moises Padilla, two weeks before the election day./PN
