IBA, Zambales – Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. yesterday derided detractors for coming up with another “bad script” to weigh him down and discredit his administration in time for the coming May elections.
Reacting to news reports alleging that the murder of a Pangasinan mayor was hatched by the principal suspects at the Capitol building here, the governor said the said scenario was “simply ridiculous as to be a product of hallucination.”
“Every murder, whoever may be the victim or the suspect, is always a reprehensible act. But this report about my supposed involvement is only pathetically laughable. This is a very, very bad script,” Ebdane said.
Ebdane’s name is apparently being dragged into the case after the National Bureau of Investigation filed murder charges on Tuesday against Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and 1st District Congressman Jesus Celeste for the killing of Infanta town Mayor Ruperto Martinez, who was gunned down last December 15.
The NBI based their case on the testimony of a 16-year-old witness, the son of another respondent, who claimed he was present at a meeting in the Zambales Capitol where the murder was discussed.
Reports said the NBI subsequently dropped Ebdane from the case “for insufficiency of evidence linking him to Martinez’ killing.”
Ebdane said this can only be the handiwork of his detractors who are moving heaven and earth to ease him out. “But I don’t think they would succeed,” he added.
Atty Ianela Jusi-Barrantes, Ebdane’s legal counsel, meanwhile reminded Ebdane’s detractors and the witness in the Espino case that untruthful accusations made under oath expose them to liability for perjury and similar cases.
“Governor Ebdane has categorically denied meeting with Gov. Espino and Congressman Celeste at any instance in Zambales or anywhere else, and that the only time he would see Gov. Espino is during the meeting of the League of Provinces of the Philippines,” Barrantes pointed out.
“The account of the witness mentioning Gov. Ebdane’s name need not be belabored any further, as it is a patent lie and concocted falsehood intended to malign Gov. Ebdane who had nothing to do with the alleged cases against Gov. Espino,” Barrantes added.
