Murder raps filed against Malabor killers

CEBU, Philippines - A criminal charge for double murder was filed against the suspects behind the assassination of Negros Occidental Provincial Board Member Renato Malabor and his bodyguard, Leody Jomilla on June 28 at Isabela town.

Pending the issuance of arrest warrants, Benjamin Magalong, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-6, however refused to name the 12 suspects, one of whom was rumored to be an active policeman.

Magalong however confirmed yesterday that the Philippine National Police has hauled to court seven identified persons and five John Does. The CIDG is a member of the task force to investigate the case, with the Isabela Police Station and the Regional Intelligence Unit of the Police Regional Office-6.

On the motive of the killing, Magalong also declined to reveal this to the media, claiming that it might alert the suspects, who are still on the loose.  “We are still tracking down the suspects. We’re hoping for a speedy resolution of the case,” he said.

When asked what led them into identifying the suspects, the CIDG credited witnesses and “the fluid and relevant circumstantial evidences that we could establish unbroken chain of events that determined the perpetrators of the killing.”

For now, the CIDG has been strengthening its forensic evidences to back up the established circumstantial evidences, said Magalong, assuring the public that the agency would continue with its investigation despite the filing of charges.

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. meanwhile put up a P2-million reward money for the immediate arrest of the suspect while the PB added P500,000 to the bounty to be sourced from the salaries of the PB members. The governor earlier insisted that Malabor’s death was "politically motivated."

Magalong further said the P2.5-million reward money will be given to any informant who helped policemen in the investigation of the case, and the identification and arrest of the suspected killers. — (FREEMAN)