Ex-Vice Mayor’s slay: Hagedorn urges police to arrest other suspects

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — Mayor Edward Hagedorn said he has issued a "strong appeal" to police authorities to act swiftly and solve once and for all the murder of former city vice mayor and radio commentator Fernando "Dong" Batul.

In a letter to provincial police director Elpedio de Asis Jr., head of Task Force Dong Batul, Hagedorn expressed concern over the "slow pace in the complete resolution of the Batul murder case."

He urged the police to intensify their manhunt for the remaining suspects in the ambush-slaying.

"It is not enough that the police authorities have arrested the alleged killer, SPO1 Aaron Golifardo of the Palawan police force, after he was positively identified by several witnesses," Hagedorn said.

"No stone should be left unturned so that any and all persons involved, including the two remaining suspects at large and the masterminds, if there are any, are put behind the bar of justice to answer for their dastardly crime," he said.

Hagedorn said, "The well-being of the city and its people demand a proper closure to the case, otherwise all the city and its business sector’s efforts to project Puerto Princesa City as an ideal international tourist haven and an investment area will be useless and futile."

Hagedorn said he is also seeking the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation to help speed up the solution of the Batul murder case.