Kin of slain ex-US Navy man bewail slow police probe

LAGUNA, Philippines– Relatives of a retired US Navy man who was found headless last Jan. 7 in Pakil town are dismayed with what they alleged to be slow progress in the case.

Boy Palatino, vice president of the Camp Paciano Rizal press corps, told The STAR that Senior Superintendent Pascual Muñoz, Laguna police director, has instructed the Pakil police to pursue their hunt against Ronnie Abion, 22, a suspect in the killing of his uncle, Cesar Dalena.

But Palatino said the Pakil police has apparently ignored Muñoz’s order, as there are no indications of an intensified manhunt for Abion.

The headless bodies of Dalena and his maid, Jakielyn Tapulalan, 19, a student, were found in the mountainous village of Ting-as in Barangay Burgos, Pakil town on Jan. 7. A certain Nelson Agao survived the attack.

In San Pablo City, meanwhile, police were still clueless in the killing of councilor Edgardo Adajar and his bodyguard, Rolando Leonardo, two weeks ago.

A P800,000 reward has been put up for information leading to the arrest of the killers.