Broadcaster's murder: "Witnesses are after the reward money"

CEBU, Philippines - Former Lezo town mayor Alfredo Arcenio in Aklan yesterday claimed that the witnesses who tagged him as mastermind in the 2004 killing of a broadcaster in Kalibo were just after of the reward money.

Arcenio continues to claim innocence in the murder of Bombo Radyo Kalibo station manager Herson Hinolan. He denied the direct testimony of eye witness Niño Suner pointing him as the alleged mastermind.

Arcenio, when asked by his lawyer Eduardo Arriba of the possible motive behind the witnesses’ claims, said that the reward money could have driven them to testify against him.

“The motive is the reward money kasi nong wala pang reward money hindi sila naglabasan after the reward money was raised naglalabasan na sila (the motive is the reward money because they did not come out until after the reward money was raised), ” Arcenio said.

Arcenio said he cannot possibly order the killing of a person without any reason. Arcenio’s case was originally homicide where he posted P40,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

However, the Department of Justice, upon reinvestigation upgraded it into murder where his bail was cancelled. The Supreme Court ordered the transfer of the hearing of the case in Cebu upon the request of the prosecution because of the alleged security threats for their witnesses.

Arcenio’s detention was also transferred to Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center. — (FREEMAN)