In the Know: Who’s Nelson Morales?

Friends and family pay their last respects to Nelson Morales, former city engineer of Makati and Albay chair of the United Nationalist Alliance, in his residence in Malinao town, at his wake. Morales was buried Sept. 15, 2012. MAR S. ARGUELLES/INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON

MANILA, Philippines–Nelson Morales served as Makati city engineer when Vice President Jejomar Binay was the mayor of the city and until Binay’s son Junjun took over as chief executive.

Morales, also Albay provincial chair of Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), was killed on Sept. 7, 2012, while walking at the Estancia church grounds in Malinao, Albay, after attending a wedding ceremony.

In a statement on the death of Morales, Makati city government spokesman Joey Salgado said that Morales had enjoyed the full trust of the Binays.

“Nelson Morales was a hardworking city official and a dependable coworker. He was also one of several city officials who enjoyed the full trust of Vice President Jejomar C. Binay during his term as mayor, and of incumbent Mayor Jun Binay,” Salgado said.

Morales was reportedly planning to run for mayor of Malinao in the 2013 elections challenging then Mayor Billy Ceriola. Alice Morales, a sister of Morales, is the present mayor of Malinao town.

Gunman also killed

A few hours after the killing of Morales, Christian Saysay, 22, who was identified as one of the gunmen, was found dead at Josefina Belmonte Memorial District Hospital in Ligao City, with  a bullet wound in the abdomen believed to have been fired by Raul Capitan, the security aide of Morales.

A day later, the police arrested the second suspect, Roderick Saysay Sarahan, 37, at his residence in Barangay (village) Molosbulos, Libon, Albay, while about to drive a motorcycle with no plate and with an expired driver’s license.

Other suspects identified by witnesses at the police rogue’s photo gallery to be at the scene of the crime were brothers Gilbert and Ramson Concepcion, both former Army soldiers assigned in Sorsogon province and dishonorably discharged from the service due to their alleged involvement in criminal activities; a Wilfredo Sasota; and two others known as Peter and Alan.

Gun for hire

When the Binays paid their last respects to Morales, the Vice President praised and thanked Morales, describing him as a hardworking city officer.

Binay also sought a deeper investigation to identify the mastermind as initial investigation revealed that the suspects were hired gunmen and former military personnel. Inquirer Research

Sources: Inquirer Archives, makati.gov.ph