Reward offered for arrest of Palawan port exec’s killer

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — A cash reward of P380,000 has been offered in exchange for information that can lead to the arrest of the killer of a lawyer and official of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in Palawan.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the IBP-Palawan chapter offered P100,000 each for the capture of the killer of Joshua Abrina, 32, who was shot dead on Wednesday night in front of his property in Puerto Princesa City.

The rest of the reward was provided by city councilors Epitacio Lao and Elgin Damasco, provincial board member Ryan Maminta and Kalayaan Vice Mayor MP Albayda.

Meanwhile, acting Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered a thorough investigation of the case and directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to immediately identify the killer.

Nartatez condemned the killing, saying justice must be served immediately.

He urged people with knowledge of the case to come forward and cooperate with the police.

Col. Cristine Tabdi, acting chief of the Puerto Princesa City police, said the Task Group Abrina is gathering testimonies from witnesses and neighbors as well as the victim’s family.

Probers have yet to review video footage of closed-circuit television cameras installed at the crime scene.

Tabdi said probers ruled out robbery as the motive for the killing as the assailant did not take any valuable items from the victim.

Damasco said he received information that Abrina’s murder might be related to his former job at the Department of Education-Palawan.

Abrina resigned from the DepEd in July to join the PPA-Palawan office. He and his family had just arrived home from a prayer meeting when he was killed.