Murder witness killed

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A witness—who issued an affidavit linking a policeman and a former policeman in the killing of a Chinese businessman on Christmas Day last year—was found dead Tuesday night at Hacienda Carmen in Barangay Granada of Bacolod City.

The victim — Byron Bacaro — was positively identified by his aunt, Marilou Peruelo. He succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in the face and head.

Witnesses said Bacaro and two of his companions, on board a vehicle, stopped at the hacienda road of the barangay, for personal necessity. However, his two companions, whose identities were not established yet by the police, reportedly shot him dead right at the area.

Bacaro linked Police Officer 2 Marlon Famucol and his friend, former policeman Jason Sumalangcay, to the P1-million heist of JDS Mindoro Enterprise in December 25 last year, resulting also in the killing of the Chinese businessman, identified as Changle Wu, and a security guard of the establishment. Four other Chinese businessmen were also injured.

But Bacaro later retracted his sworn statement, claiming that he was only forced by two police commissioned officers, whose identities being withheld, presently assigned at the Bacolod City Pollice Station, in exchange of P100,000. Famucol vehemently denied involvement in the killing of Wu. (FREEMAN)