Nicole slay: Noy offers P2-M reward

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is offering a P2-million reward for anyone who can provide information that will lead to the capture of the person who fired the gun during the New Year’s Eve revelry that killed seven-year-old Stephanie Nicole Ella in Caloocan City.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte confirmed the reward yesterday, saying the offer was made by Aquino during his dialogue with executives of the Radio Mindanao Network last Thursday during the annual conference of station managers.

She noted that the term used was “information leading to the arrest and conviction” of the suspect.

Valte said there has been good progress in the investigation and the President had begged off from mentioning the details so as not to tip off the suspect.

Nicole was hit in the head by a stray bullet from a .45 caliber pistol fired on New Year’s Eve, leaving her comatose for two days at the East Avenue Medical Center.

Nicole was buried in Norzagaray, Bulacan last Jan. 12.

“I hope the authorities would open their eyes and arrest the real gunman of my daughter. With her burial, I’m hoping the justice we are fighting for Nicole would not also be swept under her casket,” said the victim’s father Aquilino over the weekend.

With an intermittent drizzle, the white funeral car adorned with white and pink balloons left the Lord’s Flock Sanctuary International chapel in Barangay 185, Malaria, Caloocan City last Saturday morning.

The funeral convoy, which included some 300 motorcycle riders and 50 cars, jeepneys, barangay and police patrol vehicles, arrived at the Sanctuario de Paz in Barangay Minuyan, Norzagaray, Bulacan.

The vehicles were also adorned with balloons in white and pink – Nicole’s favorite colors – and carried banners marked “Justice for Nicole.”

Nicole’s father appealed anew to the authorities and to witnesses to help the family in the pursuit for justice.

“I’m afraid that after Nicole’s burial, as the police and the media turn their attention to new cases, my child’s case would slowly be forgotten,” he said.

The police have so far questioned five suspects.

Army reservist Juan Agus, and his three friends, all neighbors of the victim, were taken in for questioning after they admitted firing a .45 caliber pistol in welcoming the New Year.

But ballistic test of recovered slugs and the one taken from Nicole’s head did not match the gun of Agus.

The four were charged with alarm and scandal and were released on bail.

Another suspect, Grene Da, a 62-year-old neighbor of the Ellas, was also questioned after a search of his house resulted in the seizure of a licensed 9 mm pistol with bullets, a slug and six more bullets for a .45 caliber pistol.

Da was charged with illegal possession of ammunition while results for the cross matching of the slug recovered at his house have yet to be released.

Caloocan City police spokesman Superintendent Jackie Candelario said police investigators are continuing follow up operations.