Reward in Lingayen pol couple slay now P1.2 M

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan– Support for the search for justice for the killing of former Lingayen vice mayor Ramon Arcinue and his wife in Manila last March 7 has snowballed with the provincial board contributing P200,000 to bring the total cash reward for the arrest of the killers to P1.2 million.

Sixth district board member Alfonso Bince Jr. said each board member agreed to contribute P10,000 while Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. would give P50,000, to increase the reward for the arrest of those behind the gun-slaying of Arcinue and his wife Zorahayda, chairperson of Barangay Poblacion here.

This, even as police are now hunting down a politician’s bodyguard from another town of this province reportedly seen shooting the couple in Manila.

Mayor Ernesto Castañeda Jr. said earlier he was seeking the approval of the municipal council for the cash reward for anyone who could give vital information that would lead to the arrest of the killers of the Arcinue couple.

Pangasinan second district Rep. LeopoldoBataoil has filed a House resolution condemning the killing and urging the police and the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a joint and thorough investigation into it.

The Arcinue children said they were also willing to offer a reward to help them get justice for their parents, who were laid to rest here last Tuesday.

Lawyer Joel Arcinue, son of the couple, earlier appealed to President Aquino to help them get justice for his parents.

The couple left five children. On March 4, 2011, Ramon and Zorahayda were ambushed while traveling along the national highway in Barangay Biec, Binmaley.

He refused to say whether the first attempt on his parents’ lives is related to the second shooting that killed them.

Manila Police District homicide section chief Insp. Joey Ocampo earlier said a team from his section is zeroing in on the alleged gunman, believed to be a bodyguard of a Pangasinan politician from another town.

Ocampo said the gunman is in his early 30’s, slim and is at least 5’5’ tall.

He said there were witnesses who saw him shoot Ramon and Zorahayda in front of their rented apartment on Maceda Street in Sampaloc, Manila at around 10:30 that night.

Investigators said that they were looking at certain personalities in the province who may have a motive to silence the Arcinues.

According to police reports, Ramon was first heard arguing, with the gunman outside their house before he was shot.

Upon hearing the commotion, Zorahayda went out and was also attacked. Both were shot in the head.

The attacker spared their two sons, who along, with other family members, rushed the couple to the University of Santo Tomas Hospital.

They were declared dead about an hour later.

Witnesses said the gunman fled on foot and boarded a bus along Espanada Boulevard.