Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas N. Gutierrez yesterday ordered the filing of murder charges against Gapan City, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ernesto Natividad and 23 others for the killing of two persons in 2006. 
Aside from Natividad, ordered charges were Dennis Matias, Lorenzo Rueda Jr. a.k.a. ‘Pando,’ Crisanto Mateo a.k.a. ‘Diego,’ Dalia Cruz, Romeo Natividad, Ricardo Peralta, Randy Puno, Jovert Dumlao, and 15 John Does.
The said respondents were recommended charged for murder (Art 248 of the Revised Penal Code) with the qualifying circumstance of taking advantage of superior strength, with the aid of armed men, employing means to ensure or afford impunity, with evident premeditation, use of motor vehicle and in consideration of a price, reward or promise.
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Cristina Pascual for the killing of her sons, Ericson and Ebertson Pascual at the Gapan coliseum and cockpit arena, at brgy. Pambuan, Gapan City, Nueva Ecija.
During investigation, one of the witnesses, Virgilio Malgapo revealed that “it was respondent Mayor Natividad who masterminded the killing because of politics.” Malgapo used to work in the cockpit where the killings took place, the said cockpit is owned by the victims’ family.
He narrated that on March 10, 2006, he was contacted by Peralta, (his wife’s cousin) and relayed to him the plan. He was apprised of his role in the killings, which is to open the big gate of the cockpit to allow the assailants to enter the premises without passing through the security.
Subsequently, they were brought to the house of Mayor Natividad who gave him P20,000 as down payment for the agreed price of P100,000.
Malgapo recounted that “on the agreed date which was March20,2006, and upon signal, he opened the big gate and let the persons led by respondent Peralta enter the cockpit premises.” After letting them in, Malgapo claimed that he failed to notice where they positioned themselves. At about past one o’clock, the killing was perpetrated. Malgapo was also shot in the head.
He also stated that after his release from the hospital, as he feared for his life, he decided to hide and stay with his brother in Bulacan, and later went straight to the CIDG to reveal what he knew.
Mayor Natividad denied the allegations against him. But the Ombudsman said his defense “takes the nature of alibi which is declared as the weakest defense, the same was not given merit.”
BY JUN RAMIREZ
Manila Bulletin
March 6, 2009
Aside from Natividad, ordered charges were Dennis Matias, Lorenzo Rueda Jr. a.k.a. ‘Pando,’ Crisanto Mateo a.k.a. ‘Diego,’ Dalia Cruz, Romeo Natividad, Ricardo Peralta, Randy Puno, Jovert Dumlao, and 15 John Does.
The said respondents were recommended charged for murder (Art 248 of the Revised Penal Code) with the qualifying circumstance of taking advantage of superior strength, with the aid of armed men, employing means to ensure or afford impunity, with evident premeditation, use of motor vehicle and in consideration of a price, reward or promise.
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Cristina Pascual for the killing of her sons, Ericson and Ebertson Pascual at the Gapan coliseum and cockpit arena, at brgy. Pambuan, Gapan City, Nueva Ecija.
During investigation, one of the witnesses, Virgilio Malgapo revealed that “it was respondent Mayor Natividad who masterminded the killing because of politics.” Malgapo used to work in the cockpit where the killings took place, the said cockpit is owned by the victims’ family.
He narrated that on March 10, 2006, he was contacted by Peralta, (his wife’s cousin) and relayed to him the plan. He was apprised of his role in the killings, which is to open the big gate of the cockpit to allow the assailants to enter the premises without passing through the security.
Subsequently, they were brought to the house of Mayor Natividad who gave him P20,000 as down payment for the agreed price of P100,000.
Malgapo recounted that “on the agreed date which was March20,2006, and upon signal, he opened the big gate and let the persons led by respondent Peralta enter the cockpit premises.” After letting them in, Malgapo claimed that he failed to notice where they positioned themselves. At about past one o’clock, the killing was perpetrated. Malgapo was also shot in the head.
He also stated that after his release from the hospital, as he feared for his life, he decided to hide and stay with his brother in Bulacan, and later went straight to the CIDG to reveal what he knew.
Mayor Natividad denied the allegations against him. But the Ombudsman said his defense “takes the nature of alibi which is declared as the weakest defense, the same was not given merit.”
BY JUN RAMIREZ
Manila Bulletin
March 6, 2009
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