Ramon Cervantes
Late this evening, the Deputy Prime Minister, Gaspar Vega issued a statement in respect of an allegation made against him in a shocking recording of a phone call to Vilma Cervantes, wife of murder victim, Ramon Cervantes Senior. In the recording, a senior, very high profile politician is being accused of paying for a contract hit and while we did not name him on Wednesday night, tonight he responds. The recording released by the Cervantes family on Wednesday purports to be from wanted alleged murderer Manuel ‘El Pelon’ Castillo. That recording has, to put it lightly, disturbed the nation. It is a chilling account of murder for hire. Tonight, we bring you more of that recording, in which Castillo tells Vilma Cervantes that he is innocent of the crime for which he is accused. But as we said, we won’t report on the allegations he makes against the politician. Mike Rudon has been following the story and has the update.
Mike Rudon, Reporting
Manuel ‘El Pelon’ Castillo is wanted by the Police for the murder of Ramon Cervantes Sr. Police say he plotted the kidnapping and gave the order for the execution of Cervantes. But on October eighth, a man claiming to be Castillo called Vilma Cervantes to claim his innocence. He claims that he is bedridden because he was shot by Tony because he would not do the job. We believe the caller is referring to this man – Angel Antonio Cardenas, arrested by Police and charged for the murder of Cervantes.
Manuel Castillo
Alleged Voice of: Manuel Castillo
“I cannot stand up to go, to go and show my face right now…until I am healed. But they want to kill me also. If the police catch me, they will kill me. Do you understand me?”
Voice of: Vilma Cervantes
“Who? Who? Who shot you?”
Alleged Voice of: Manuel Castillo
“The same, the same young man who used to live with me, shot me. The same young man because I did not accept. They accepted the money and they shot me. The same one. the one that is seventeen years old. His name is Tony. He shot me in the back with his, with his gun. He shot me. I will not forgive him. I will never forgive him because I gave him to eat.”
Vilma Cervantes
Voice of: Vilma Cervantes
“Where did it happen? I do not understand you well Manuel. But why did they shoot you?”
Alleged Voice of: Manuel Castillo
“Because I did not accept to work. I did not want that. I told them that I will not involve myself in that. I told them that I will not be involved myself. Then they jumped me and shot me. And then, because I know what is happening. I know what is happening.”
Castillo admits that he has done many things, but tells Vilma Cervantes that he would never have taken a job to kill her husband because he knows him.
Voice of: Vilma Cervantes
“Yes, you harmed us. You caused us much harm Manuel.”
Alleged Voice of: Manuel Castillo
“I know that madam. I know it. That’s why I am calling you.”
Voice of: Vilma Cervantes
“I never, never thought that would happen.”
Alleged Voice of: Manuel Castillo
“I feel bad. You know why? I feel bad because everyone, everyone, everyone is putting the blame on me. I don’t have anything to do with it. I did not even take off a hair from your husband. I would never accept a job where, I know people. I would never….I don’t even do that kind of job. Me, if they tell me, that to go to bring beers or something. I will, I will go to bring beers. I sell clothes and do all kinds of things, but not that kind of job.”
The conversation is apparently distressing to Vilma Cervantes, and she asks the caller, allegedly Manuel Castillo, why he would do such a thing. He again claims that he is innocent of the crime for which he is being sought.
Voice of: Vilma Cervantes
“I was dismayed that you are the one that is responsible Manuel, for this because you were our neighbours. Your mother, your father and us, we were good friends…for you to be…”
Alleged Voice of: Manuel Castillo
“Yes, I know. That’s why I did not accept. When they came to tell me about that, I told them, “Are you crazy?” I told them Misses Vim. I told those boys don’t play with fire. You will get burnt. And look, they came and behind my back and they did that to me. And now, the big ones are left, Misses Vilma. Now, I will take care of everything, everything, everything and I will take care of it. You will see. I swear, they will, they will pay.”
Cervantes struggles for understanding of the crime which took her husband so brutally and so abruptly.
Voice of: Vilma Cervantes
“They went to look for yo? And Manuel, look, why didn’t you warn us?”
Alleged Voice of: Manuel Castillo
“Look Misses Vilma, I worked with Mexicans also. But don’t do that kind of job. They told me because I know the town where Monchi was. That’s why they went to see me. And I told the boys no, no. When they shot me to get me out of the way.”
Voice of: Vilma Cervantes
“Who shot you? Tony?”
Alleged Voice of: Manuel Castillo
“Yony, Tony is the one that shot me…the one that is in jail.”
Voice of: Vilma Cervantes
“Where were you then all this while?”
Alleged Voice of: Manuel Castillo
“I know. I was at a hospital Misses Vilma. I was at a hospital. And right now some friends went to look for me and now I am at the home of some friends. But now I am very afraid Misses Vilma. I am very afraid. The truth is that I have nothing to do with this. Nothing. I would like to go to orange Walk right now, but I know they will kill me.”
According to the caller, allegedly Manuel Castillo, he has evidence, recorded evidence, which proves his startling and incredible allegation. He has sworn to come forward with that evidence to clear his name. If the caller is Castillo, and his allegations are credible, we can only assume that some persons are having some sleepless nights since the recording broke. Mike Rudon for News Five.
We note that in the months following Cervantes’ murder, the Police have released absolutely no information despite many inquiries. But today, following the allegations against that senior politician, they did. Their release states that, “Police investigation has proven so far that no other party apart from wanted person Manuel Castillo and his accomplices are responsible for both murders.” That comes across clearly, to us at least, as an immediate move to protect that senior politician from the allegations made against him. The release also states that Police officer Javier Alvarez, who apparently sold a Police Service handcuff to wanted fugitive Manuel Castillo has been placed on disciplinary charges.
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