Breaking news: Diasen killer surrendered

In a breaking report in one of national TV stations last night, Joel Melod, 24, prime suspect in the murder of vice governor Rommel Diasen last April 7, 2007 yielded himself to authorities last Tuesday in Baguio City. It was only yesterday that he was presented in a press conference.

Melod is consistent in saying that he acted on his own to kill the vice governor to avenge the death of his uncle, Judge Milnar Lammawin of the regional trial court in Kalinga, on Aug. 9, 2004 and that politics is out of the picture.

Tribal revenge is questionable

But the tribal vendetta angle was dismissed by the tribe-mates of Melod from Magnao. According to Barangay Captain Johny Sappa, there was no tribal consensus so it should not be considered as tribal revenge and that their tribe should not be dragged all along into the murder case of Diasen.

Mayor Camjlo Lammawin, brother of the late Judge Lammawin, shared Sappa's view. "Our family and the whole of the Magnao tribe don't know of such plan. People should stop saying that its revenge," the mayor said.

But even without the consensus of the Magano tribe to the killing, the whole tribe is dragged into another problem - the implication of maliciously trying to implicate Congressman Laurence Wacnang in the murder of Diasen.

Political angle quashed, Wacnang cleared

Wacnang, a member of the Tulgao tribe had seek refuge in their Bodong (peace pact) with the Magnao tribe to clear his name.

According to Wacnang, its high time that the rumors of his involvement be cleared. "I'm vulnerable to the situation" Wacnang said. "Somebody might make me a victim and relate it to the Diasen killing."

The Magnao tribe acceded to the request of the Tulgao tribe for the clarification of the alleged involvement.

During the meeting, Mr. Juan Edduba accused the family of Governor-elect Floydelia Diasen and her supporters as the ones who kept on saying during the campaign and in an interview with GMA 7 and other local news papers that the death of Vice-governor Diasen is politically motivated, and that Wacnang has something to do with it.

But the incoming governor denied having directly linked Wacnang to the case. According to her, what she was only saying was that the death of her husband is election related.

After a lengthy discussion, the tribal elders from the Magnao and Tulgao tribes signed a declaration clearing Congressman Wacnang of any involvement in the Diasen Killing.

The declaration also warned to penalize thru the provisions of the "Pagta" (By-laws) of the Bodong anybody making statements linking Wacnang to the Diasen murder.

See related story and video below and here.