Man nabbed for slay try on House majority leader
A man armed with a revolver was arrested Tuesday afternoon as he reportedly tried to break through the security cordon for House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr., in what the latter described as an apparent attempt to prevent him from filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) for governor of Camarines Sur at a local Commission on Elections (Comelec) office.
Ray John Musa, 26, a member of the Capitol Complex Security Unit, was arrested and subsequently charged with attempted murder and violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Andaya of Camarines Sur’s first district will face Gov. Migz Villafuerte, grandson of Villafuerte patriarch Luis and son of Rep. L-Ray Villafuerte, in the 2019 elections. The elder Villafuerte was himself a former governor and congressman.
Andaya’s close-in security Samuel Alforte and supporter Lupi Mayor Roberto Matamorosa were able to subdue Musa and seize from him a caliber .38 (TM Smith & Wesson) revolver loaded with five bullets. The firearm has no serial number.
“If they think they can intimidate me, they’re wrong. There’s no more turning back,” Andaya said in Filipino.
He said he expects his opponents to spread lies and fake news about the incident to distort the truth and mislead the public about the identity and motive of the suspect or his principal.
Witnesses told police that before the incident, Musa was seen acting suspiciously while trying to blend in with Andaya’s supporters who accompanied him to a local Comelec office at around 2:30 p.m. to file his COC.
Meanwhile, more administration and opposition members of the House of Representatives made it to the last day of filing of COCs.
Among those seeking re-election are Reps. Alfred Vargas of Quezon City, Edgar Erice of Caloocan City, Joseph Sto. Nino Bernos of Abra, Strike Revilla of Cavite, Alfredo Garbin Jr. of Ako Bicol, Lito Atienza of Buhay and Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay of Senior Citizens.
Former An Waray congressman Florencio “Bem” Noel also hopes to return to Congress, as does former congressman Martin Romualdez, who filed his COC yesterday as first district representative of Leyte in place of his wife, incumbent Rep. Yedda Romualdez. Yedda will be running as first nominee of local party-list Tingog.
Evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Jesus is Lord movement, along with Rep. Sherwin Tugna of partylist Citizens Battle Against Corruption, likewise led a “solidarity march” to Comelec main office where Cibac nominees filed their certificates of nomination and acceptance (CONA) as well.
Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, who is now on her third and last term as lawmaker, filed her COC but this time as governor of her home province Dinagat Islands.
Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo, who is also stepping down in June 2019, has filed his COC for councilor of the city. “The journey of public service never ends. The public service continues. The fight goes on,” he said.