PNoy assures Uy's family of justice PRO-8 releases suspects' sketches

CALBAYOG CITY ,Philippines  - President Benigno Aquino III the other day made a brief visit of the wake of the assassinated city Mayor Reynaldo Uy and assured the family that justice will be served.

He also raised the reward to P 1.2 million to anyone who can help identify and arrest those behind the killing.

Aquino expressed his concern over the killing of the mayor, who was among the Liberal Party stalwarts in Samar, and directed the Police Regional Office-Region 8 to speed up the resolution of the case and arrest the perpetrators. 

The president arrived with Senator Mar Roxas and some Palace officials, and were met by Leyte Governor Icot Petilla, Rep. Mel Sarmiento (1st dist., Samar) and a number of LP mayors of Samar province.

Uy was killed on April 30 by a still unidentified gunman who also wounded Provincial Board Member Eunice Babalcon during a vesper's program for the fiesta celebration in Hinabangan town of Samar.

PRO-8 director Chief Supt. Arnold Revilla, in a press conference yesterday, released to the local media artist's sketches of the two suspected assailants, based on the testimonies of witnesses to the investigators.

Revilla said there is no concrete lead yet to the case but then all possible angles are being considered, including political motive and personal grudges. 

Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, in his visit earlier to the province, ordered PRO-8 to fasttrack the investigation and initially offered P200,000 bounty in addition to the P100,000 reward offered by Hinabangan Mayor Alejandro Abarratigue for the arrest of the killers.

A day after the killing, PRO-8 created the Special Task Force Uy, led by Sr. Supt. Edgar Basbas, which is now working with other police agencies in the investigation.

PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo, for his part, has ordered the PRO-8 to enforce the gun ban and the suspension of permits to carry firearms in the entire province to secure civilians and avoid possible violent reprisals among supporters.

A number of checkpoints has been set up also in strategic areas around Samar province.