JAEN, Nueva Ecija – Sitting Mayor Antonio Pospero Esquivel on Monday pressed for a full-dressed investigation on the series of explosions and grenade throwing here amid the continuing political controversy.
In an interview at the town hall, Esquivel said he personally requested some officials from the National Bureau of Investigation and regional and provincial offices of Philippine National Police to conduct an independent investigation on the incidents.
“Ano ba ang dahilan? Pinagugulo ba nila ang bayan ng Jaen?” Esquivel asked, saying he was puzzled on the motive behind the grenade throwing on the house of his rival, Comelec-reinstated Mayor Sylvia Austria and the explosion at the back of the municipal public market recently.
“Sa isang mayor na katulad ko na nanunungkulan, ang pangunahing layunin natin ay ang katahimikan at kaunlaran,” he said.
In a statement last week, PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas said the Feb. 9 explosion “has all the indications of political motive apparently related to the contested mayoral seat.”
“This is already the second incident of this nature – with striking similarities to the first incident of explosion and power blackout on Dec. 20, 2020,” Sinas said.
“Incidentally, in both explosions, post-blast investigation shows similarities in the bomb signature and components used in the construction of both IEDs, indicating the possibility that it may be the handiwork of the same suspect,” he added.
Sinas urged the camps of Esquivel and Austria to keep their respective political supporters under control and to refrain from taking actions detrimental to public order and safety.
Austria, through her counsel lawyer Dominic Garen, earlier said unearthing the culprits behind the grenade throwing would put a stop on the spate of violence.
