12 face murder raps for slay of Negros board member, aide

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Twelve persons were charged with two counts of murder before the Negros Occidental prosecutor’s office yesterday for the killing of Negros Occidental 5th District board member Renato Malabor and his security escort.

Senior Superintendent Samuel Nacion, Negros Occidental police officer-in-charge, said four witnesses, including a 12-year-old boy, have executed affidavits and appeared before the prosecutor on Tuesday.

Malabor, 55, and Leody Jomilla, 52, were gunned down outside a cockpit in Barangay Guintubhan in Isabela town on June 28. They were walking toward their car when they were shot at past 1 a.m.

Nacion said only seven suspects, two of them under police custody, have been identified. He said they are also investigating if there were policemen involved in the killing.

Director General Benjamin Magalong of the Criminal Investigation and Detective Unit said the case is not yet solved despite the filing of charges against the suspects.