Peña: The Garcias have a ‘history of killing each other’

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña yesterday denied any involvement in the recent ambush that claimed the lives of local officials, incumbent Municipal Councilor Michael Garcia and former Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) President Mark Garcia, in the town’s Barangay Inolingan.
In a press conference, Peña claimed the Garcia family has a “history of killing each other,” pointing out an earlier incident involving the shooting of the now-slain former ABC official.
The mayor affirmed any case filed against him will not push through successfully since he had nothing to do with it.
Peña also criticized the attention paid to the matter by provincial authorities, which he deemed as “biased,” noting the same scrutiny was not paid to the prior killing of incumbent Moises Padilla Municipal Councilor Jolomar Hilario.
Earlier, incumbent Moises Padilla Vice Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, who was part of the convoy where the two officials were killed, immediately blamed the mayor.
Isabela Mayor Joselito Malabor recently expressed his lack of confidence with both the military and police, particularly the leadership capabilities of Philippine Army 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, and 62nd Infantry Battalion commander, Lt. Colonel Egberto Dacoscos, claiming they are working for Peña./DGB, WDJ