Ex-gubernatorial candidate in Samar faces arrest for murder case

TACLOBAN CITY — A former gubernatorial candidate in Samar is facing arrest for a murder case in 2017.

Emil Zosa, who ran for governor of the province during the 2019 elections, was not around when the arrest warrant issued by the court was served by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Samar Provincial Police Office at his residence in Santa Margarita town at past 3 p.m. on Thursday.

A brother-in-law of Zosa received the warrant issued by Judge Lolita Mercado of the Regional Trial Court Branch 46.

No bail was recommended against Zosa, a retired intelligence officer of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“(With him not around to accept the warrant), he is now considered as a fugitive, a wanted (person) and can be arrested anywhere because of the warrant (issued against him),” Corporal Mark Malatbalat of the CIDG, said.

Zosa was accused of killing Enrique Manas, Sr. in Barangay Bahay, Santa Margarita on July 23, 2017.

According to the victim’s son Alfredo, Zosa was pointed to by two of the five gunmen as the mastermind.

“Our family is now happy that there is now a warrant issued against him. We hope that he will voluntarily surrender as we only want justice for the senseless death of our father,” Alredo said.

He said their family was a known supporter of former town mayor Fred Serrano, a political rival of Zosa’s wife, Gemma, who is now the incumbent mayor of Santa Margarita.

Mayor Zosa has yet to issue statement on the issuance of the warrant against her husband.