PNP files frustrated murder case vs radioman’s gunman

By Mar T. Supnad

CAMP QUIRINO, Bantay, Ilocos Sur- Police filed Thursday frustrated murder charges against the alleged gunman of a local radio man but the suspect is still at large.

Senior Supt. Eduardo Dopale, acting provincial police director, reported to Chief Supt. Constante D. Azares, Jr., Region 1 police chief that Mario Paa, alias Mayong of Bulag East, Bantay town has been charged before the prosecutor’s office and the case is now due for preliminary investigation.

But Azares, a native of Vigan City, pressed Dopale and his men to further intensify their hunt against the elusive gunman, together with the assailant of a municipal candidate in Sta. Maria identified as Artemio Tugade who was shot dead before New Year by gunmen riding in tandem.

On the evening of Jan. 7, Eugene Paet, a commentator of the DWRS radio owned by deputy national security adviser and gubernatorial candidate Chavit Singson, was shot and wounded while he was on is way home riding on his motorcycle near the PNP Headquarters here.

Paet is still recuperating from a lone gun shot wound in the abdomen from a Cal. 45 bullet that pierced through his body.

Newsmen said the victim was not a hard hitting media man, prompting the police to believe it was motivated by personal grudge.

“Our police personnel are now investigating the incident. I have instructed the establishment of checkpoints and the conduct of dragnet operations in the area for apprehension of the other suspects who shot and killed Tugade and other unsolved killings here,” Dopale added.

Azares directed Dopale to immediately solve the series of unsolved killings in the province for the past several days so as not to suffer the fate of Senior Supt. Benjamin Lusad, Ilocos Norte PNP director who was relieved of his post due to the ambush of a group of politicians that resulted to the killing of a barangay chairwoman and the wounding of seven others including two policemen escort.

Dopale is one of the three nominees who were recommended to become PNP director of Ilocos Sur following the retirement of Sr. Supt. Virgilio Fabros last month.