DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/27 May) – Two suspects in the killing Friday (May 23) of a radio blocktimer in Digos City have been charged with murder Monday, a police official said.
In an interview Tuesday during the program “Tayo’y Magtapatan” aired over Radyo ng Bayan-Davao, Digos City police chief Supt. Querubin Manalang said they have filed charges against Rady Cabales and one John Doe for the killing of Samuel Oliverio.
Manalang said Oliverio’s wife, Rowena Baylosis, positively identified Cabales as the triggerman, and the other suspect as the driver of the motorcycle used in the crime.
Reports said the killers were not wearing masks. Oliverio was driving his motorcycle from a market in Digos with Rowena onboard at the time of the incident.
The victim sustained a gunshot wound in the head. His wife was also wounded.
Manalang said they considered the case “cleared” since Oliverio’s wife positively identified the suspects, who remain at large.
The police official called on the public to relay information to authorities on the suspects’ whereabouts.
Police were also investigating if somebody had ordered the killing, and if the motive was personal or work related.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said his colleagues in Digos described Oliverio as being vocal on local politics and against the proliferation of illegal gambling and illegal drugs in the city.
Oliverio, 57, was an employee of the city government who served as anchor of a blocktime radio program at Radyo Ukay-UMBN. But Radyo Ukay station manager Ramon Sibya was quoted in a Philippine Information Agency-XI report as saying Oliverio was no longer anchoring the radio program due to health reasons.
Oliverio reportedly suffered a stroke a month ago.
Meanwhile, Chief Supt. Wency Pascual, Region XI police director has ordered Davao del Sur provincial police director Supt. Mike Dubria to work for an early solution of the case. (MindaNews)