P300T reward awaits tipster on Roxas' killing mastermind
ROXAS CITY – A total of P300,000 reward awaits the witness or those who can provide a lead in the identification of the mastermind in the murder of Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) dyVR anchorman Martin Roxas last week.
The city and the provincial governments of Roxas and Capiz, respectively, promised to take equal share in the obligation.
In a press conference, Roxas City Mayor Vicente B. Bermejo said that the P150,000 the city government had committed for the reward money is only an initial amount. He promised to lobby with the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod for additional amount.
In a separate interview, Roxas City chief of police Senior Inspector Leo Batiles, disclosed that the police force from the municipality of Ivisan apprehended two suspects after the latter ran over the police check point in the area.
Apprehended are Joenil Lastimoso, 27 years old, a resident of Brgy. Cagay, this City and Christian Tan, 26 years old, a native of Brgy. Quibido, Maayon, Capiz.
Lastimoso is a son in-law of a Kagawad of Brgy. Cagay. He is also a fugitive for two warrants of arrest for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. One of the warrants is issued by Judge Charlito Fantilanan of RTC Branch 18 with P240,000.00 bail bonds.
Tan works as a mechanic and temporarily stays in his brother's shop at Bayot Drive, here. He also had a rape case, which, according to records, was amicably settled.
Batiles said that they do not have any records or information that the two suspects are involved in the 'gun for hire' business. "But the possibility of their being involved in that business is not remote, because our information shows that they need money to support their vice which is drugs," Batiles said.
At present, reports show that there are four witnesses under the protection of Roxas City Police. One witness is a policeman.
A SOCO team from the Regional Command of the PNP in Iloilo City came to this city in the evening of August 7, to conduct investigation.
Dr. Owen Libaquin, Medico Legal of the PNP Regional Command who made an autopsy examination on the body of Roxas found the bullet that killed the victim. Libaquin declared that it was a 'glazer bullet', a special bullet that works in a double action manner. "He cannot survive this shot, the effects of the bullet damaged not only his heart but other vital organs," said the medico-legal officer.