Police ready murder charges vs. suspect in Belmonte ambush

Multiple murder charges are readied against the 62-year-old suspect in the failed assassination attempt on Iligan City Rep. Vicente Belmonte.

According to a "GMA News TV Live" report Sunday, authorities are also considering filing frustrated murder and damage to property charges against Dominador Tumala, who was arrested by police poeratives early Saturday morning.



Tumala has denied involvement in the failed slay try on Belmonte, saying he was just on his way to the Laguindigan Airport in Misamis Oriental to pick up his sibling when the ambush occurred.

He is currently under the custody of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Region 10.

Local PNP officials, however, said Tumala has been positively identified by witnesses and survivors of the ambush as among those who opened fire on Belmonte’s vehicle last Thursday.

Authorities said they have also discovered incriminating text messages in the mobile phone confiscated from the suspect, but they refused to disclose the contents, citing an ongoing investigation on the case.

Three members of Belmonte’s group were killed in the ambush that occurred minutes after they left the Laguindingan Airport.

The Iligan City lawmaker sustained a minor wound in the incident while three others were injured.

Belmonte said the ambush may have been politically motivated since he has expressed his intention to run for Iligan City mayor when his term ends in 2016.

A manhunt continues for two other suspects believed involved in the attack, even as the police have identified the owners of the car plates found inside a burned van possilby being used by the attackers as getaway vehicle.

Police said they are investigating if the owners of the plates were involved in the incident. — Xianne Arcangel/LBG, GMA News