Prime suspect in Mindoro slays identified

Police have identified a prime suspect in the Feb. 13 ambush-killing of Vice Mayor Juvy Magsino of Naujan, Mindoro Oriental, and human rights activist Leima Fortu, Malacañang announced yesterday.

"The investigation has confirmed that this is a purely criminal act without any ideological undertones in which the police or military are implicated directly or circumstantially," President Arroyo said in the Palace statement.

Police sources said murder charges were filed yesterday against the suspect, whose identity was withheld pending his arrest.

The suspect, said to a gun-for-hire, was identified by a witness of one of the two killers of Magsino and Fortu.

"In due time, we shall account for the suspects and the mastermind behind this heinous crime," the President said. — Marichu Villanueva, Jaime Laude