CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna- The five suspects in the shooting of Infanta, Quezon Mayor Grace America have been charged with frustrated murder and attempted murder before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, Infanta District Office, according to reports.
The suspects identified in the reports by Police Regional Office 4A (PRO4A) were Joraffin Fortunado Plantilla alias Jorap, 42 of Banugao, Infanta Quezon; Bobby Vargaz alias Ranny, 30-35, of Brgy. Tamala, Gen. Nakar, Quezon; Ronil De Guzman Nolledo alias Onil, 22-24 of Minahan Norte, General Nakar; Ereberto Escueta alias Ebit; LA Ruanto, and Gilbert Pacio.
The Infanta Municipal Police Station was able to secure sworn statements from three witnesses which led to the identification of said suspects.
The statements that corroborated the pieces of evidence earlier gathered by the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) “America”, are directly pointing to the identity of the suspects in the shooting of America.
Among the evidence presented to the prosecutor are the ballistic examination results and CCTV footage, the report added.
“I would like to commend the members of the SITG 'America' for exerting extra effort to solve this incident which has an incumbent official of the Local Government of Infanta, Quezon as the victim,” said PRO4A Regional Director Brig. General Antonio C. Yarra.
“We will see to it that these suspects will be put in jail and pay for their crime,” added Yarra.
The police will continue their investigation to identify the mastermind and determine the motive behind the shooting of the Mayor, Yarra added.
General Dionardo Carlos, the Chief of the PNP, also lauded PRO-CALABARZON under the leadership of Yarra for solving this case, saying that it highlights the investigative competence of the PNP.
He reiterates his instruction to maximize efforts in solving crimes particularly those that involve political figures and more so since the national and local elections are fast approaching.
“We shall see to it that we are keeping the focus on our plan of keeping the peace, and promptly solving incidents that could disrupt the conduct of secure, accurate, and free-and-fair elections,” Carlos added.