Solon theorizes ‘white paper’ sparks killing

By Charlie V. Manalo

10/09/2008

A lawmaker suspects a white paper circulated lately in different offices at the House of Representatives, which strongly advocated the ouster of Speaker Prospero Nograles, may have led to the ambush-slaying of his chief of staff yesterday morning.

Compostela Rep. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora said his chief of staff, Robert Delano, 48, had been worried that the anti-Nograles white paper might be attributed to him.

Delano died while undergoing treatment at the Jose Delgado Memorial Medical Center from a single gunshot wound in the face.

Supt. Lino Banaag, Quezon City Police District’s homicide section chief, said the victim was gunned down by three unidentified armed men in front of his house at 73 K-3rd Street, Barangay Kamuning, Quezon City around 8:20 a.m. yesterday while he was on his way to the office on a blue Toyota Fortuner with plate number 8.

Barangay tanod Edwin Cariño, said he heard the gunshots and followed the suspects who casually walked towards E. Rodriguez Street. Carino described the suspects as slim and tall, about 5’8 in height and wearing black “shoe bags.” He added the assailants waited for the victim at a nearby burger stand.

Operatives from the Special Weapons and Tactics teams recovered .45 cal. shells from the scene of the crime.

Chua said the victim showed no vital signs, with a zero pulse rate and dilated pupils when he arrived at the hospital. Attending physician Bonnie Chua tried to extract the bullet from the wound for about 30 to 45 minutes but failed to save Delano.

In the middle of September, at the height of rumors of a Nograles-ouster move, a white paper was circulated in Congress which denounced the Speaker for reneging on his alleged promise to grant House employees a P12,000 grocery allowance.

In a copy of the paper obtained by The Tribune, unnamed House employees are clamoring for the replacement of Nograles by Kampi president, Rep. Luis Villafuerte, claiming they have been deprived under the present House leadership.

The paper said while the Senate had given its employees P25,000 in grocery allowance, the House employees were only given promises of P12,000 as grocery allowance due to unavailability of funds.

Villafuerte denied knowledge of the white paper. He said “nonetheless, if they have problems which they want to be resolved, they should come out in the open so we could all help in threshing them out.” “If I was the target, then why did they shoot Delano in front of his house?”

He added that as far as he knew, Delano had neither enemies nor rivals.

Nograles promised Delano’s family that his office will lead a thorough investigation of the incident and assured Zamora of protection.

“It is urgent now, more than ever, to enhance the surveillance and intelligence gathering capabilities of our law enforcement agencies because criminals respect nothing and no one.”

Delano was the president of the association of chiefs of staff of congressmen, known for viciously advocating for the rights of chiefs of staff for representation and travel allowance. With reports from Gina Peralta-Elorde and AFP

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