Leyte mayor linked to local exec’s 2019 slay

Remedio Veloso —PHOTO FROM SAN ISIDRO, LEYTE FACEBOOK PAGE

TACLOBAN CITY—The testimonies of least three witnesses became the basis for the filing of a murder complaint against the mayor of San Isidro town in Leyte province and three others for the killing of the municipality’s administrative officer in 2019, the police said.

The witnesses, in their sworn affidavits submitted to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said Mayor Remedio Veloso and three others plotted the killing of Levi Mabini, 42, then the municipal administrative officer, who was shot dead in Barangay Capiñahan, San Isidro, on May 8, 2019.

“According to the witnesses, the respondents conspiring/planning together, confederating with, and mutually helping one another, did then and there, willfully and feloniously with intent to kill with evident premeditation, treachery and taking advantage of superior strength with aid of armed men fire and shot upon the person of Mabini, with the use of long firearms hitting him on the different parts of his body…,” the CIDG’s complaint read.

The statements of the witnesses were used by the CIDG as basis in filing a murder complaint against Veloso, his brother Emmanuel Veloso, Cayetano Dagandan III and Manuelito Sidaya at the Leyte Provincial Prosecutor’s Office on March 21.The Inquirer tried but failed to reach Veloso for a statement.

But a close ally of Veloso said the mayor had nothing to do with the killing of Mabini.

“It’s just politics. He (Veloso) will answer the complaint filed against him,” said the mayor’s ally who spoke to Inquirer on condition of anonymity last Friday.

He said Veloso and his camp were still discussing with their lawyers if there was a need to hold a press conference to defend themselves. INQ