ALLEGED GUNMAN? Lalaine Yuson, wife of Batuan, Masbate Vice Mayor Charlie Yuson III, shows reporters a photo of one of the suspects that was uploaded on social media by a witness. —RICHARD A. REYES
The wife of Batuan, Masbate Vice Mayor Charlie Yuson III on Thursday accused Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office board member Sandra Cam of orchestrating her husband’s murder.
At a press conference, Lalaine Yuson, wife of Yuson III, claimed that Cam’s former driver was one of the gunmen, adding that she had received a tip that two of the three other suspects were Masbate policemen.
Lalaine showed the media photos supposedly showing Cam’s driver with losing Batuan mayoral candidate Marco Martin Cam, Sandra’s son.
She admitted, however, that she did not know the names of the driver and the two policemen.
Yuson III was the acting Batuan mayor in the absence of his son, Charmax Jan, who had been elected mayor in the May elections, beating Cam’s son.
Political murder
Lalaine claimed that her husband’s killing was a “political murder” as she asked President Duterte for help in solving the case.
“I already know who is behind this, and I am placing my family and the witnesses’ family in your hands, Mr. President,” she said.
Hours after her press conference, Police Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao, the Manila Police District (MPD) director, presented to the media the four suspects in Yuson’s killing—Bradford Solis, 41; Juanito de Luna, 54; Junel Gomez, 36; and Rigor dela Cruz, 38.
Saying the MPD was “101-percent sure” that the four were the gunmen, Danao said they had been positively identified by eight witnesses near the crime scene.
Lalaine afterward expressed satisfaction after she saw the suspects. “I have not even seen my husband’s body. I prioritized this (seeing the suspects) and I am thankful to the [MPD] director because my patience is running out,” she said.
Earlier, she accused the police of a coverup after she noted that there was no report of the suspects’ arrest at the MPD Station 5 where they had supposedly been taken.
Cam denies allegation
In a statement, Cam denied their involvement in Yuson III’s killing, saying that they had “moved on” since the elections.
“It is so unfair that our family is being dragged into this,” she said as she called on the MPD to dig deeper into the case.
On Wednesday morning, Yuson III and his two companions were at an eatery in Sampaloc, Manila, when they were fired upon. He died at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital while his companions received treatment for their wounds. —WITH A REPORT FROM MARIEJO S. RAMOS