On the Benaojan case: Loot warns media against speculating

Cebu Provincial Police Director Vicente Loot warned the media in a press conference yesterday against speculating on the motive for the killing of Bantay Radyo reporter George Benaojan.

Loot said that the slaying of the radio reporter was not just because of activities related to the business of the victim.

He said that the investigation will be jeopardized with such unfounded speculations. Loot also said that they are still looking into the Bureau of Customs to check if the murder of the reporter had anything to do there.

"I won't confirm nor deny about business rivalry." He said that they concentrated on leads based on the evidence that they have gathered, but are not focusing on one angle only.

Loot said that he would not yet divulge the identity of the mastermind and cannot give any details yet so as not to jeopardize the ongoing manhunt operation against the gunman.

The CPPO chief said that he had talked with Collector Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang over the phone to seek her help in the investigation about the activities of Benaojan in the Bureau of Customs.

Loot said that their focus now is to arrest the suspect.

Loot believes that once Roberto 'Jinky' Jagdon is arrested there's a possibility that the person they now believe is the mastermind could just be a middleman. So far the evidence they have gathered are not yet enough to file a case against the mastermind.

Adriano 'Jammy' Llanos, a friend of Benaojan who witnessed the shooting positively identified Jagdon as the one who shot Benaojan at the South Central Market in Lawaan, Talisay City last week.

Loot revealed that Jagdon's relatives are not in good terms with the suspect and have been very cooperative in the investigation.

Benaojan, 27 years old, was shot four times last December 1 and died hours later while undergoing treatment at the hospital. It was the second attempt on the life of the reporter. - Norvie S. Misa