Cop in Valerio murder missing

The cop-suspect in the March 18 murder of Government Corporate Counsel Macario Valerio continues to evade authorities after justice department subpoena servers found that he had "abandoned" his house in Taguig, Metro Manila.

Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Severino Gaña Jr. said he was told by process servers that the house of General Santos City policeman Antonio Cabador in Camp Bagong Diwa had been "padlocked" several weeks ago, according to Cabador's neighbor, Divina Romulo.

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation failed to apprehend the cop earlier after they filed charges against him and Valerio's widow, Milagros, whom they suspect of having hatched the plot to kill the GCC chief to permanently remove the hindrance to their illicit relationship.

Mrs. Valerio was charged with parricide but was ordered released by the DOJ because of lack of evidence. Cabador however, along with triggerman Martin Jimenez and alleged lookouts Samuel Baran and Geronimo Quintana were charged with murder.

Asked if they would get state witnesses from the respondents, aside from the five witnesses of the NBI, Gaña said he will have to "assess" if there is such a need when the suspects appear in his office to file their counter-affidavits on May 29.

The suspects in the Valerio murder were placed by the Bureau of Immigration on its hold departure list, especially Milagros and Cabador who are both at large. The others remain in NBI's custody.