By JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS
TIAONG, Quezon – A former judge and congressman of Batangas province who was reportedly missing since Wednesday was found dead, together with two other victims, after their service vehicle was set on fire here before dawn on Thursday.
Local police reported that residents called up the local police station at around 12:10 am on Thursday, informing that there was a burning vehicle somewhere at Barangay San Francisco, this municipality. Upon receipt of such a call, police personnel immediately proceeded to the place and put off the fire in the burning vehicle and there they found the bodies of two individuals.
Technical assistance of the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) was requested to process the crime scene and the investigators initially identified one of the victims as lawyer Edgar L. Mendoza, 60 years old, of Evangelista St. in Batangas City. His remains and those of his driver Nick Mendoza and aide bore gunshot wounds, police said.
Initial investigation disclosed that Mendoza left his home for a meeting in the City of Calamba, in Laguna on Wednesday with his two companions but never returned home since then, prompting the family to report the same to the local police office.
As of press time, police investigators are still looking into the possible motive of the attack.
Mendoza has served as presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court in Batangas City, as commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID), and as a congressman of the 2nd District of Batangas that formerly includes Batangas City.
Upon retiring from politics, the late Mendoza resumed his legal profession and maintains a law office in Batangas City since then.| – BALIKAS News Network
