Death threats hounded slain Bulacan trader

CAMP GEN. ALEJO SANTOS, BULACAN –– The businessman who was gunned down in a Thursday (Jan. 23) attack in Paombong town had been receiving death threats, the police said.

The threatening text messages were revealed to the police by the father of Bernardo Martin Umali, a 49-year-old former seaman, who has been buying and selling used cars, said Major Agustin Joseph, Paombong police chief on Friday (Jan. 24).

Motorcycle-riding gunmen shot Umali about 10 a.m. as he drove through Barangay Sto. Nino in Paombong. His live-in partner Maria Corazon Cruz, 58, was wounded and is in critical condition. Their 4-year-old grandchild was in their vehicle but was not harmed.

They were on their way home to Hagonoy town.

The attack on the businessmen was the latest in a series of gun attacks, which the Bulacan police are investigating.

Col. Emma Libunao, Bulacan police director, held a police conference on Friday to tackle the murders.

On Jan. 19 in Plaridel town, former Pandi vice mayor Oscar Marquez and Barangay Captain Mauro Capistrano of Pandi’s Bagbaguin village were shot dead in a restaurant at the Plaridel Bypass road in Barangay Bulihan.

On Nov. 22, businessman Jacob Mora was killed, while his driver Patrick Uzon was wounded, when gunmen onboard a sedan fired at their vehicle as it passed Barangay Iba in the City of Meycauayan.

On Nov. 4, Barangay Captain Rosteo Salao, 67, of Lapnit in San Ildefonso City was shot dead as he drove his vehicle, while on Oct. 22 in Barangay Malipampang there, gunmen killed village chief Felimon Santos, 52. His companion, Richard Del Rosario, was struck by a stray bullet.

On Sept. 19 in Baliwag town, motorcycle riders shot dead Barangay Captain Rolando Rivera of San Jose./lzb