Laguna Gov. Teresita “Ningning” Lazaro condemned yesterday the assassination of Sta. Rosa City Mayor Leon Arcillas as a “heinous act of violence that needs to be immediately put into justice.”

     Gov. Lazaro directed PNP-Laguna Provincial Director Senior Supt. Federico Terte, also head of the Special Investigation Task Group Arcillas, to employ all the available resources to put the perpetrators behind bars.

     Arcillas was shot dead last May 10, 2005, 10:30 a.m., inside the city’s newly constructed municipal hall shortly after he officiated a mass wedding of some 15 couples on the second floor of the building. One of his policeman bodyguards, PO2 Erwin Rivera, was also killed.

     Reports said a lone gunman joined the crowd of the newly weds, went near Arcillas and fired several shots at him. The bullets went through Arcillas’ head and chest. Police Region IV Director Jesus Versoza and Provincial Director Terte rushed to Sta. Rosa and led the on-the-spot investigation.

     “In behalf of the Provincial Government, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the families of Mayor Arcillas and PO2 Rivera. This very unfortunate incident is indeed a big loss,” Gov. Lazaro said. She also sought the people’s help in solving the case. “I ask the people’s utmost cooperation in the immediate capture of the suspects,” she added. # (PIO-Laguna)