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Manila Bulletin

Philippines

Former Iloilo town mayor, wife, 2 sons charged of murdering woman

Philippines

Former Iloilo town mayor, wife, 2 sons charged of murdering woman

By Tara Yap

ILOILO CITY — A former town mayor in Iloilo province, his wife, and two sons are among the persons charged for the murder of a 36-year-old single mother and businesswoman last October 2021.

Former mayor Peter Paul Lopez of San Dionisio town, his wife Saliha “Sally” Lopez, and two sons: Carlos Paul Bermejo Lopez and Felix Paul Bermejo Lopez were named in the murder charges filed by the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) for the death of Claire Diergos.

Former mayor Peter Paul Lopez and his wife Sally. (Peter Paul Lopez Facebook/Manila Bulletin)

RMN Iloilo radio station released the names Friday, January 7, after securing copies from the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutors Office after police filed murder charges last Wednesday, January 5.

The killing of Diergos has been a high-profile case.

But authorities including the Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, IPPO director, still refused to release the name of the suspects even after charges were filed before the prosecutor.

To recall, Diergos was found dead inside her abandoned vehicle in Sta. Barbara town last October 26, 2021. Police investigation found that she was killed at her house in Pavia town before her body was transported to Sta. Barbara.

Police surmise Diergos' death is a crime of passion.

The Diergos family welcomed the latest development.

“Karma is real,” wrote Clarisse Samantha Diergos immediately after the names were released publicly.

As for the Lopez family, only one member addressed the public.

“Maguba man kami sa imahe sang iban, peru batuan namon ang kamatuoran (Our image may have been destroyed to others, but we will fight for the truth),” said Christian Paul Lopez, another son of the former mayor.

“We are lenders. We are car dealers, but surely we are not killers,” Christian Paul added.

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