P1.2-M reward up in Calbayog mayor's slay

MANILA, Philippines - The government is offering P1.2-million reward for anyone who could help identify and arrest those behind the killing of Calbayog City, Samar Mayor Reynaldo Uy last April 30 while he was attending a fiesta in another town.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said he asked the local police if offering a reward would help in the immediate solution of Uy’s killing.

Robredo met with officials of the Eastern Visayas (Region 8) police and local government officials last Monday and discussed the murder with them after President Aquino expressed concern about the case.

“The case should be immediately solved, and the local police should prevent an escalation of violence in the province. Solving the case is the only way to defuse the tension there,” Robredo said.

Robredo also condemned Uy’s killing and ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a speedy investigation “so that justice will be served.”

In a report to Camp Crame, Chief Superintendent Arnold Revilla, Eastern Visayas police director, said a P200,000 reward is offered for anyone who could identify the killers and another P1 million for their arrest.

Revilla has directed all police chiefs in the region to review their policy guidelines in providing security to government officials and high-risk private individuals.

Uy, 59, provincial chairman of the Liberal Party, was shot while attending the fiesta in Hinabangan town in Samar on the night of April 30. He died while undergoing treatment at St. Paul’s Hospital in Tacloban City the following day.

In a directive, PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo suspended permits to carry firearms outside residences in the entire province of Samar.

“To end the perceived ‘culture of violence’ and improve the peace and security in the province, there is a need to limit the number of firearms proliferating in the streets, both the registered and loose firearms,” Bacalzo said.

Revilla said the PNP has activated Special Investigation Task Group Uy to spearhead the speedy investigation into the killing. – With Miriam Garcia Desacada