Benaojan slay suspect arraignment on Feb. 22

Regional Trial Court judge Eric Menchavez scheduled for February 22 the arraignment of Roberto "Jinky" Jagdon, the alleged gunman of slain Bantay Radyo reporter George Benaojan.

Jagdon is expected to enter a plea of not guilty because he already denied involvement in Benaojan's killing despite his identification by a witness.

Witness Adriano Llanos, who was with Benaojan when the incident happened, positively identified Jagdon as the radioman's gunman during a police lineup following the suspect's surrender to the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division last week.

Cebu Provincial Police Office chief Vicente Loot said that they are still conducting investigation to identify the mastermind in the killing.

Loot claimed that Jagdon's statements are all denial, saying that they had came up with four other suspects and one of them is the alleged mastermind.

He said that the CPPO is still the lead agency in the investigation despite Jagdon's surrender to the RIID. - Fred P. Languido and Norvie S. Misa