Half of P.5-million reward in massacre released

MANILA, Philippines - Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn has released P250,000 as part of the P500,000 reward for information that will help solve the killing of a retired Navy officer and five family members in the city last Aug. 9.

Hagedorn turned over the P250,000 to the investigators and informants who helped in the arrest of Florencio Magada, one of the main suspects in the killing of retired Navy Lt. Cmdr. Ernesto Paiton, his wife Chief Petty Officer Carmelita Paiton, daughter-nurse Erlita Paiton, and relatives Sharon and Renato Cabatuan.

Magada used to be the caretaker of the Paitons’ farm in Puerto Princesa. 

Officials said the reward will be divided among elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Task Force Paiton and the informants identified only as Jennifer, Roger, Apolinar, Jocjoc, and another woman, who are all under police custody.

Hagedorn said they decided to turn over only half of the P500,000 reward so other informants could also provide leads for the arrest of the four other suspects.

Task Force Paiton has secured a court order for the records of cellular phone calls to Paiton’s wife, as part of the evidence in the ongoing investigation.