Mayor probed for radioman’s killing

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines — Bislig City Mayor Librado Navarro is among those being investigated in connection with the killing of radio anchor Cristopher Lozada last week, a police official said yesterday.

Chief Inspector Ephraim Megreno, Bislig police chief, said Joel Sy Egco of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security met with police investigators at the Caraga police office on Friday and expressed belief that the graft case that Lozada filed against Navarro before the Office of the Ombudsman could be the motive for the killing.

“Egco…wants to make sure this angle…is thoroughly investigated,” Megreno said.

Navarro and 11 city government officials were charged with graft in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of a heavy equipment in 2012. They were found guilty of grave misconduct and ordered dismissed.

However, the Court of Appeals in a ruling issued on Friday issued a temporary restraining order stopping the implementation of the dismissal order for 60 days.

Megreno said they are also looking into a love triangle and the complaints against Lozada’s radio program.

Lozada was in his Toyota Vios with his partner Honey Faith Indog when unidentified men in a van shot him several times in Barangay Coleto.