P1M reward out for wanted ex-Gapan mayor

MANILA, Philippines – Days as a free man may be numbered for an ex-mayor wanted for a multiple murder case in Nueva Ecija in 2006.

In a press conference in Ermita, Manila, on Monday, the family of murdered brothers Ericson and Ebertson Pascual dangled a P1-million reward for anyone who can locate main suspect Ernesto Natividad, former mayor of Gapan town.

Natividad is the suspected mastermind behind the brothers’ murders, alleged to be politically motivated. The siblings were shot dead by a group of armed killers at the Gapan coliseum and cockfighting arena.

Recently, the Ombudsman ordered the filing of multiple murder charges against Natividad and two others, in addition to six already implicated in the crime.

Wary of Natividad’s influence in their province, the Pascuals chose to file the charges against Natividad in Manila.

Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 8 presiding judge Felixberto Olalia Jr. issued a warrant of arrest for Natividad last Jan. 25.

The eight other suspects now being hunted along with Natividad are Romeo Natividad, Dalia Cruz, Sienna Quiambao, and Lorenzo Rueda Jr. of Gapan, Nueva Ecija; Ricardo Peralta and Crisanto Mateo of Bongabon, Nueva Ecija; Dennis Matias of San Isidro, Nueva Ecija; and Romeo Dacles of Maricaban, Pasay City.

The Pascual family also offered a bounty of P100,000 each, for any information on their whereabouts.

The Pascual brother’s mother, Cristina, said all the suspects had warrants of arrest out for them.

She said Natividad had residences in Nueva Ecija and Metro Manila. She was certain he was not able to leave the country since Olalia had also issued a hold departure order on him.

The Pascual family has started posting wanted posters of the nine suspects. Informants are encouraged to report to the police or contact 09198589701.

Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption president Dante Jimenez, who organized the press conference for the Pascuals, called on law enforcement agencies and even bounty hunters to intensify the manhunt for the suspects.

A bounty hunter who called himself “ET45” and had a background in military intelligence operations was present at the press conference.

He expressed confidence he could track Natividad down. “I’ve already informed my contacts in Gapan. I could find him by this week,” the tall, smirking, silver-haired man told the Inquirer, in Filipino.

Meanwhile, Olalia inhibited himself from the case on Jan. 30, because he is a close friend of one of Natividad’s lawyers. The case is set to be re-raffled this week.