Police closing in on photojournalist’s gunman

Police are now closing in on the alleged triggerman in the ambush-slay of photojournalist Alberto Orsolino last Tuesday in Caloocan City.

Senior Superintendent Geronimo Reside, Caloocan City police chief and Task Force Orsolino commander, said the gunman in Orsolino’s slay has been identified and is now the subject of a police manhunt.

"We were able to identify the triggerman and he is now being hunted by our operatives," Reside told The STAR.

Reside said that fireman Roberto Flores, assigned at Silang, Cavite, who owned the motorcycle used by the suspects in the ambush-slay, has been released but is still considered a suspect.

"He is still a suspect for he failed to substantiate his claim that he already sold the motorcycle in question," Reside said.

Flores was invited by the Caloocan police Thursday to explain his side on the case.

Reside also named jail guard Ramon Rivera and one Reynaldo Nicolas as the two other suspects.

"We are looking into their participation in the liquidation plans," Reside said.

Orsolino, a photographer of Saksi and assigned in Malacañang, was driving along C-4 Road near the boundary of Caloocan City and Malabon when waylaid by the suspect on Tuesday.

Intelligence sources said that a woman first fired at Orsolino who tried to flee at a nearby gas station but was chased and fired upon by men on board a motorcycle.

Police said Orsolino’s murder is not work-related. — Pete Laude, Michelle Ann Babagay