By Ben Rosario La Union Rep. Sandra Eriguel, widow of the late former Rep. Eufranio Eriguel, yesterday blamed officials of the Philippine National Police Regional and the former Agoo chief of police for their inaction in the murder of her husband, former Rep. Eufranio Eriguel. (photo sourced from congress.gov.ph) In a privilege speech, the lady lawmaker called on the House of Representatives to conduct an inquiry into the actions of regional police officials a few days before heavily armed assassins killed her husband and four other men in Barangay Capas, Agoo on May 12. She noted that security detail for the family has been pulled out “one by one until none were left on the day of his assassination.” Rep. Eriguel blamed politics for the death of her husband. “Mr. Speaker, let me state that I firmly believe that if it were not for the orders of RD Sapitula to pull out our police security detail and the ineptness of former Agoo COP Padilla for failing to act on the letter of Barangay Capas for security assistance, the shooting incident may have been prevented and that my husband could have been alive today,” Congresswoman Eriguel stated. She was referring to Chief Insp. Alfredo Padilla Jr. , former Agoo City police chief; and Chief Supt. Romulo Sapitula, Region 1 police director. Padilla allegedly did not provide for security personnel despite a request from the barangay chairman of Capas while Sapitula issued the order to recall security personnel assigned to the Eriquels. The lady solon stressed that there remains an active threat on their lives, recalling that just two years before, an improvised explosive device missed her husband when it exploded as his convoy passed. A supporter of the Eriguel’s was killed but the case remained unsolved. Notwithstanding pleas from the Eriguels for a reconsideration of his order, then La Union police chief, Senior Supt. Genaro Sapiera, rejected the appeal, saying that the order to withdraw the police security came from Chief Supt. Romulo Sapitula, the PNP regional director for Region 1. Five days before the incident, the barangay chairman of Capas asked Chief Insp. Alfredo Padilla Jr., then Agoo’s chief of police, requested for police security for the “miting de avance” scheduled on the day the former congressman was killed. “As legislators, we must look into the actions of the PNP days before the brutal and cowardly murder of my husband. We can prevent this type of murder being committed again,” said Rep. Eriguel said. She said the former lawmaker was killed by unidentified men who strafed him with bullets from M14 and M16 rifles as he delivered a speech during the barangay campaign miting de avance. Eufranio succumbed to eight bullet wounds. Three of his companios, Patrick Manabat, Mario Ordinario and McRuel Tubera were also killed during the incident.] So far, only one suspect, Felizardo Villanueva who lsot the May 14 barangay chairmanship race, has been arrested and charged with three counts of murder. “The mastermind of this murder probably thinks that to take Congressman Franny down would mean dismantling the union of the leaders. But, Congressman Franny has already done more than unite our leaders, he has long created a legacy that is already written in history,” she said. “We cry for justice. We want justice for those who were injured, for those who died and for Congressman Franny Eriguel," the widow said.