Gun-for-hire killed in prison

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines - The security group in the provincial jail is still clueless on who could have stabbed dead last Tuesday a gun-for-hire detained on murder charges, radio reports on Thursday said.

Ronald Balorio, of Mlang town in North Cotabato, died from a multiple stab wounds.

Balorio was arrested and jailed in connection with the brutal killing more than a year ago of a public school teacher and her daughter in Mlang, North Cotabato.

Jesus Singson, warden of the North Cotabato provincial jail in Amas District in Kidapawan City, said Balorio, who had confessed to his offense, was stabbed in the neck, abdomen and chest, causing his death.

Singson said investigators are still gathering information from inmates who were near the spot where Balorio was attacked.

He said potential witnesses are reluctant to cooperate with probers.

Relatives of the two Mlang residents Balorio admitted to have murdered have called for an extensive inquiry on his mysterious death.

Singson promised to exhaust all possible legal means of identifying the culprit.