Reward up for info on ‘access road killer’

The city government of Pasay said it has pooled resources with Parañaque City to put up a P200,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the person who shot and killed a 14-year-old boy last week.

"Parañaque City Mayor Joey Marquez and I agreed to each put up a P100,000 for any information that would lead to the arrest of the suspect," Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao "Peewee" Trinidad said in a phone interview.

The two mayors met after the burial of victim Alvin Valdez yesterday.

Valdez, of Buenavida Homes, Parañaque, was on board a tricycle when he was shot twice in the body by an unidentified person last Nov. 14.

The incident happened at around 9:30 p.m. on the Merville Access Road, Balagbag, Barangay 201, Pasay.

Trinidad said Valdez could have been a robbery victim as his wallet was missing. The assailant, however, failed to get Valdez’ cellular phone, which authorities used to locate the boy’s family.

Trinidad said Valdez’s family and schoolmates held a prayer march in Parañaque after the boy’s burial.

The mayor added he has also ordered the relief of the station commander of the police community precinct that has jurisdiction over Barangay 201.

In a separate interview, Marquez said the victim’s family sought his help since they were getting impatient over the seemingly slow action of the police in solving the case.

"Since they are residents of Parañaque, I decided to ask for Mayor Trinidad’s help as well," Marquez said.

Both mayors said they signed a memorandum of agreement wherein maintaining the security in the area would now be a joint effort between the police forces of the two cities in coordination with barangay officials.

Two outposts would be built by the city governments in the area to be manned by Pasay city policemen, Marquez added.

Trinidad said Valdez was killed in a depressed area where a portion of the road is quite dark.

Several incidents have happened in the area, the latest of which, police said, was the killing of an 18-year-old painter at around 5 a.m. yesterday.

Police identified the victim as Jomar Jelani of Daong Palad, Balagbag.

The victim was reportedly stabbed by a drinking buddies with an ice pick. Jelani sustained stab wounds near the chest and died on the spot. Police are still trying to determine the motive for the crime. – Nikko Dizon