Iligan mayor faces murder charges over slay attempt vs solon

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MANILA — Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia and 14 others are now facing murder charges for the ambush of congressman Vicente Belmonte leaving him hurt and 4 of his men dead last December.

Regional Director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum said on Wednesday that they already filed a case at the Misamis Oriental Prosecutors Office.

The regional director also said that the cases were based on the evidence gathered by his team, the Misamis Oriental Provincial Police office, the Special Investigation Task Group Belmonte, Regional Investigation Unit, the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory, PNP Region X, and National Bureau of Investigation Northern Mindanao.

Iligan Representative Vincent Belmonte was on his convoy while on the way to Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental when the incident occurred.

In a statement to reporters, Belmonte said that he believes the attack which killed his men, was “politically motivated.

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Belmonte chairs the committee on dangerous drugs in the House of Representatives.