ILOILO City – Councilor Plaridel Nava flatly denied having anything to do with the assassination of his estranged cousin Mercedes Nava. “That is something I cannot do because indi na ‘ya aton character,” he stressed, although he acknowledged having a testy relationship with his cousin since 2012.
“Kon ako may plano nga patyon sia, indi subong nga election period nga makaapekto sa akon kon ako ang pasibangdan,” Nava told Panay News in an interview yesterday.
Nava is running for vice mayor in the May 13, 2019 midterm elections.
Mercedes, 66, was shot by two unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen on Jan. 4 in Barangay Calajunan, Mandurriao district.
Nava urged the police to explore all possible angles in Mercedes’ murder and not be distracted by baseless speculations.
Just 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 then planned to have me as the fall guy. Ina nga anggulo dapat tan-awon sang pulis,” said Nava.
In 2012, the Navas had a very public feud. Mercedes accused the councilor of having a mistress and a child out of wedlock.
In the 2013 election, Mercedes also campaigned against her cousin.
Despite these, according to the Nava, he never entertained the thought of harming Mercedes.
“Ti, after sang 2013 election daw wala man sang problema. Daw sulhay man pangabuhi ‘ya for the past six years. Wala man kami nagkomprontahanay. Bisan dulonggan wala ko sia napitik,” said Nava.
To solve the crime, the councilor said the police must also look into Mercedes’ background.
She faced many court cases such as estafa and violation of Batas Pambansa 22 (issuing bouncing checks), revealed Nava.
In the past, said Nava, he served as Mercedes’ lawyer in these cases.
The police must also endeavor to find Mercedes’ Facebook page that had been strangely deactivated about an hour after the murder.
They must check the Facebook page and find out the personalities she had lately been at odds with, said Nava.
“I condemn the murder of my cousin despite what happened to us in the past. I have forgiven her. She’s gone now. Our family wants to know the truth. We seek justice for her,” said Nava./PN
