Dagupan mayor welcomes NBI probe of radioman’s slay try

DAGUPAN CITY—Mayor Belen Fernandez on Monday welcomed any investigation on her alleged link to the shooting and wounding of a local radio station manager here.

“Madam Secretary (Justice Secretary Leila de Lima), I assure you of my full cooperation. The sooner it is established how ridiculous this allegation is, the sooner I will be able to concentrate on my duties,” Fernandez said in a statement e-mailed to the Inquirer.

On Sunday, De Lima said the National Bureau of Investigation would investigate the people that Orlando Navarro, dwIZ News Radio station manager, had named as possibly having something to do with an attempt on his life on Aug. 26.

“As expected, Mr. Navarro has somehow managed to find a way to link my name to this crime and even went as far as [to urge De Lima] to investigate me. I welcome any and all investigations,” said Fernandez.

In an earlier interview, Navarro said he mentioned the names of Fernandez; Senior Supt. Marlou Chan, former Pangasinan provincial police director; Supt. Christopher Abrahano, Dagupan City police chief; former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group head Freddie Laoyan, and Marlon Quebral, an employee of the city health office here.

But he clarified that he dictated these names to his daughter because they were the subjects of his commentaries.

“If I die, investigators will have something to start with,” said Navarro.

Navarro also said that when he met De Lima on Thursday, it was to seek her assistance only for a deeper investigation of the incident.

Fernandez, Abrahano and Chan had denied in separate statements any involvement in the shooting.

Fernandez and Abrahano visited Navarro while he was confined at University of Pangasinan Medical Center here. City police have also given Navarro a security escort following the shooting.

“Again, let me reiterate that I am very thankful that [Navarro] survived this lowly act of cowardice and I wish him a full and speedy recovery,” Fernandez said.

She said an investigation would “undoubtedly reveal the exact motives for Mr. Navarro’s accusation and why a well-known businessman has offered a reward for any leads on the case.”

Fernandez was referring to the P500,000 reward that former Philippine Ambassador to Laos Antonio Cabangon Chua, dwIZ owner, had offered for information leading to the arrest of Navarro’s attacker.

But nine hours after the shooting, police arrested Navarro’s neighbor, Rolando Lim, 46, and filed a frustrated murder case against him in the city prosecutor’s office the following day.

Navarro said he appreciated the police’s efforts in immediately arresting the suspect but was not convinced that they arrested the real gunman. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon