JAEN, Nueva Ecija – A P300,000-reward was put up by local officials for any information that will lead to the arrest of the suspects in the killing of chairman Mark Vic Pascual of Barangay Don Mariano Marcos here, the local government announced.
In a social media post, Mayor Sylvia Austria and Vice Mayor Atty. Sylvester Austria offered P100,000 reward while former Mayor Froilan Nagan̈o and his wife, Dr. Maricel, added P200,000.
“Makakaasa po kayo na ang inyong katauhan at lahat ng mga impormasyon ay mananatiling kompidensyal,” the post assured any informant.
Pascual was gunned down by still unidentified assassins on board a blue sedan while talking to three bantay bayan members by the road side, a few meters away from his residence shortly before midnight Tuesday.
A three-term village councilor, Pascual run unopposed during the 2023 barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections, succeeding his uncle, former village head Dennis Pascual.
Mayor Austria condemned the killing. “Sana naman maging patas kayo,” she said, saying she believed the attack was politically motivated. She did not name names though.
Police has yet to issue statement as to the development of investigation even as Nueva Ecija police director, Col. Ferdinand Germino said some 100 policemen from various units in the province were sent to this town for continuing operation.