Cops ‘ransack’ house of slain broadcaster

STA. CRUZ, Laguna — Police allegedly ransacked the residence of slain radioman and community paper columnist Noel Villarante here last Wednesday in an apparent bid to find pieces of evidence that may lead to the solution of his murder.

Villarante’s wife, Jocelyn, and sisters said the police team, headed by Superintendent Ramon Dominguez, Laguna police intelligence chief, found nothing but allegedly took file copies of the victim’s articles in the community paper Laguna Score from January to August this year.

Villarante‘s sister, Anna, also told The STAR that the policemen indiscriminately searched the bottom of her brother’s TV set and dressing cabinet.

Anna said they barged into the house and told everybody to get out without citing any reason for the search.

"We suspected that the police may have planted something that may incriminate any of us in the slaying of our brother. It seemed that my brother was a suspect and might have left some incriminating evidence," she said.

"Noel is a victim and not a suspect in any crime. Why would the police search and ransack his home?" she asked.

Chief Superintendent Jaime Caringal, Calabarzon regional director, has ordered an investigation into the incident.

Villarante was gunned down by at least three men in front of his house along the national highway in Sitio Matahimik, Barangay Duhat here.

Last Tuesday, Senior Superintendent Edwin Corvera announced the arrest of suspected gunman Senando Palumbarit, 42, a police civilian agent and resident of Pila, Laguna.

Corvera said Jocelyn’s positive identification of the suspect in a police line-up led police to arrest and subsequently file murder charges against Palumbarit.

However, certain sectors expressed apprehension that Palumbarit is a fall guy.

Despite Palumbarit’s arrest, Corvera said police will continue the investigation until the two other suspects and the mastermind are nabbed. He failed to explain though why Villarante’s house was ransacked.

Earlier, National Press Club president Tony Antonio urged Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. and PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. to relieve Corvera for the latter’s alleged "biased and slow" investigation into Villarante’s murder.

Antonio said Corvera’s relief will expedite the solution of the case and give justice to the slain mediaman.

"The speedy solution of Villarante’s slay will enable the Philippine government to put substance into its policy of protecting journalists and upholding press freedom," Antonio said.