3 suspects in slay of Isabela town mayor face murder raps

Three alleged suspects for the murder of Mayor Erlinda Domingo of Maconacon, Isabela are presented to media in a press conference held at Camp Karingal in QC, Tuesday. The suspects were identified as Mary Grace Malunes-Abdulhadi, Michael Domingo. and Christian Pajenado. Recovered guns and magazines from the suspects were also presented to media. In the QCPD statement, the mayor was gunned down as she allighted from her vehicle in front of Parkville Apartelle, Examiner St, corner West Avenue , Brgy. West Triangle in Q.C. JOAN BONDOC/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A Quezon City prosecutor has recommended murder and other charges against two men and a woman arrested shortly after the killing of Maconacon Mayor Erlinda Domingo on Tuesday night.

The suspects—Christian Pajenado, 26; Michael Domingo, 38; and Mary Grace Abduhadi, 25—were subjected to inquest proceedings late Thursday night up to early Friday morning.

Inquest prosecutor Rodrigo del Rosario found that the suspects were lawfully arrested and that there is probable cause to hold them for trial.

The three were charged with murder for Domingo’s death, a non-bailable offense and attempted murder for the wounding of her driver-bodyguard, Bernard Plasos.

Domingo, 51, was shot in the head on Tuesday as she was getting out of her Mitsubishi Adventure outside Park Ville Apartelle in Quezon City. Her driver, Bernard Plasos, was also shot and wounded.

Mary Grace, wife of alleged gunman Marsibal Abduhadi, was also charged with two counts of illegal possession of firearms, violation of the gun ban under the Omnibus Election Code, and drug possession. This was after police found a .25 cal. Beretta pistol, a .45 cal. handgun and dried marijuana leaves in her possession.

Pajenado also faces one count illegal possession of firearms and violation of the election gun ban for the .45 cal. pistol seized from him.

Pajenado was first to be nabbed Tuesday night at a construction site near the crime scene. Michael Domingo and Abduhadi were arrested separately hours later in follow-up operations.

Plasos pointed to Mary Grace’s husband as the gunman, while the woman allegedly acted as a lookout. Pajenado and Michael Domingo were allegedly seen with guns in the vicinity during the ambush.

Another eyewitness, a man about to check in to the apartelle with his girlfriend, claimed he heard two gunshots and then saw the suspects running away from the inn.

Meanwhile, Del Rosario recommended that the murder and frustrated murder complaint against alleged gunman Marsibal Abduhadi and a certain “Khalid” be set for further investigation.