Murder at city hall. Policemen take Villanueva to hospital; Yap, below.
***
Melo wary of ‘Garci’
Comelec execs cool to call
for closure on ‘GMA cheating’
BY GERARD NAVAL
AFTER being dared to put closure to
the controversial "Hello Garci" scandal, newly named
Commission on Elections Chairman Jose Melo and other
poll commissioners yesterday said they were unsure on
what they could do with the three-year-old scandal.
"I am not yet sure on how we can
handle that case dahil hindi pa tayo nakakaupo. For now,
no comment na muna siguro tayo," he said.
The former Supreme Court justice has
said he will not assume his new post until he is
confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. He was
named to the post only last Saturday.
Ermita unaware if gov’t
job
awaits Esperon after extension
BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
EXECUTIVE Secretary Eduardo Ermita
yesterday said he was not aware if Armed Forces chief Gen.
Hermogenes Esperon Jr. is being considered for a
government post after his retirement in May.
Asked about an appointment as national
security adviser, Ermita said Esperon is qualified but the
position is not vacant.
He belied talks Esperon’s tour of duty
was extended by President Arroyo as government awaits
vacancies in government. He said the President simply
wants to ensure continuity in the programs of the Armed
Forces, particularly the campaign against the Communist
Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army.
A FORMER mayor of Sapang Dalaga, Misamis
Occidental was gunned down yesterday by an unidentified
assailant wearing a police t-shirt as he was about to attend his
own trial for murder at the Manila City Hall.
Reynaldo Yap, 45, died from multiple gunshot
wounds at the Philippine General Hospital.
Wounded in the assassination were Yap’s
bodyguard, Peter Villanueva, 37, of San Vicente, Baho, Misamis
Occidental, and Bella Santos-Nocum, 70, a member of the
Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, of 5125 Quirino avenue,
Tambo, Parañaque City.
