Police capture suspect in Surigao del Sur radioman murder
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 25) — Authorities arrested on Monday the suspect in the murder of Surigao del Sur radioman Christopher “Chris Rapido” Lozada.
The suspect was identified as Rolly Mahilum, and was captured at Barangay San Vicente 2, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur by the provincial police.
Lozada was an anchor and the operations manager at DXBF Prime Broadcasting Network. He was gunned down in October, 2017.
His companion that day, Honey Faith Toyco, survived the shooting and positively identified the suspect. Toyco is now under the Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice.
“Even at this time of national emergency, our law enforcers are still relentlessly pursuing suspects in cases of violence against media workers. We commend the continuing efforts of the Philippine National Police in bringing to justice these fugitives from the law,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin M. Andanar.
Presidential Tas Force on Media Security Executive Director Undersecretary Jose Joel M. Sy Egco said that “continued monitoring of all media killings by the PTFoMS are now reaping more arrests and convictions of perpetrators.”
It can be recalled that the motion for reconsideration filed by Mahilum was denied by Surigao City Acting Prosecutor Joan Francis Alas-Esmero who found “no cogent reason to reverse her resolution finding probable cause for the indictment of respondent for murder and frustrated murder.”
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