Benaojan slay case: PIIB wants 3 others included in warrant

The court should amend the warrant and include three other identified suspects in the killing of DyDD radio reporter George Benaojan, according to the chief of the Provincial Intelligence and Investigation Branch yesterday.

Benaojan was gunned down at the Central Market in Talisay City last December 1, and the police had so far named Jinky Jagdon, allegedly as one of those linked to the assailants.

Jagdon surrendered last January 12 to the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division, saying he had been receiving death threats. He said he wanted to clear his name from involvement in the killing and would help the authorities solve the case.

However, PIIB head, C/Insp. Juanito Enguera said latest intelligence reports had identified three other men seen at the time of the killing, so the warrant should be amended to include them and allow the police to arrest them.

Enguera said reports have it that the three men were on a taxi, two of whom alighted and went to where Benaojan was. Shortly after an unidentified assailant shot dead Benaojan, these two men returned to the waiting taxi while the one previously left as a lookout was already on a motorcycle driven by a man, the police had believed as Jagdon, leaving the place in haste.

The PIIB chief believed the three men were hired assassins and have been in hiding since then. - Norvie S. Misa