Suspect in radioman's killing yields
A former Aklan town mayor wanted for the murder of a broadcaster yesterday surrendered to the Aklan Regional Trial Court after four years of eluding law enforcers.
Ex-mayor Alfredo "Fred" Arsenio of Lezo town surfaced at the RTC Branch 7 accompanied by his lawyer around 3:10 p.m., said Supt. Benigno Durana, Aklan police director, in a telephone interview. He was met by policemen who were informed by the court of Arsenio's surrender.
Arsenio, a former soldier and intelligence officer, has eluded capture after he went into hiding shortly after a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Aklan RTC last year for the murder of broadcaster Herson "Boy" Hinolan.
Bombo Radyo's news website reported that after surrendering Arsenio immediately filed with the RTC a petition for bail for his temporary liberty.
The former mayor also asked the RTC for a marathon hearing and to immediately hear his petition for bail this Friday, March 7.
After filing his petition, Arsenio, who was not handcuffed, was brought to the Aklan Rehabilitation Center where he will be detained.
The Bombo Radyo website also reported that the Hinolan family was dismayed by the apparent special treatment accorded on the former mayor despite the long years that he eluded arrest.
Hinolan, station manager of Bombo Radyo Kalibo was shot by a lone gunman on Nov. 13, 2004 outside a carnival in the capital town of Kalibo. He died two days later from multiple gunshot wounds.
Witnesses have tagged Arsenio as the lone gunman who shot Hinolan and fled on board a motorcycle driven by another suspect.
The former mayor has repeatedly denied involvement in Hinolan's killing, claiming that he was in Lezo town, around 7 km west of Kalibo during the time of the shooting.
Arsenio has eluded arrest despite a massive manhunt and a P100,000 reward offered by the police for his capture despite repeated reports that he has been seen in cockpits and other public places in the province.
The Aklan provincial prosecutor had filed a homicide charge against Arsenio in 2005 but this was upgraded to murder by the Department of Justice early last year after a re-investigation on the case was conducted.
Last month, the family of Hinolan and national media organizations have asked the Supreme Court to transfer the venue of the hearing on the case to the Makati Regional Trial Court for security reasons citing Arsenio's influence as a former mayor and soldier.