Son rises for slain dad in Malabon polls

LIKE his father before him, the 22-year-old son of slain Malabon Councilor Merlin “Tiger” Mañalac may end up taking over his dad’s seat in the city council, Mayor Antolin Oreta III said in an interview Tuesday.

At the wake of Mañalac at a funeral home in Barangay Tugatog, Oreta said he was considering appointing Prospero Alfonso Mañalac as his father’s replacement, both in the council and on the Liberal Party’s slate for city councilors in the May elections.

Prospero Alfonso served as a Sangguniang Kabataan chair for three years in Barangay Tinajeros.

The third year business administration-marketing student told the Inquirer that it was his personal decision to continue what his father had started in Malabon.

In 2009, the older Mañalac replaced his father, former Malabon police chief Alfonso “Boyong” Mañalac, in the city council after the latter died of cardiac arrest.

LP presidential candidate Mar Roxas, who was at the wake, told the Inquirer that he would be supporting the younger Mañalac’s bid for a council seat.

Prospero Alfonso denied allegations that his father was involved in the drug trade and was behind the killing of New People’s Army member Peter Villaseñor in 2010.

The older Mañalac was shot dead Saturday afternoon by motorcycle-riding men in front of his house in Barangay Tinajeros.

Based on leaflets found at the crime scene, the leftist group Partisano Armadong Operatiba ng Partido Marxista-Leninista claimed responsibility for his death, saying it was to avenge the murder of Villaseñor.

The leaflets also branded him as a protector of illegal activities and a drug dealer.

“We are not rich; I saw my father’s sincerity and dedication to serve the people,” Prospero Alfonso said. “If my father was a drug lord, we would have been rich by now.”