Reward for arrest of Ilocos ambushers upped to P.5 M

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur — Local officials have joined hands to increase to P500,000 the reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of the killers of provincial auditor Agustin Chan Jr. and his driver.

The Ilocos Sur Mayors’ League, headed by Santa Mayor Popoy Bueno, contributed P200,000 yesterday, while the provincial board, led by Vice Gov. Jerry Singson, allocated P100,000.

The contributions upped the P200,000 reward which Gov. Deogracias Victor Savellano earlier had set aside.

This developed as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has begun coordinating with the police in probing the assassination.

NBI officer-in-charge Lolito Utitco said he has received a call from the Commission on Audit, requesting for the bureau’s help in the investigation.

"Should the victims’ families file a formal complaint with the NBI, we will coordinate with the Philippine National Police. That is our standard operating procedure," Utitco said.

Singson said the move of the mayors’ league and the provincial board reflects their commitment to make sure that the slain auditor and his driver, Alex Regacho, would get justice.

The provincial board unanimously passed a resolution condemning the ambush-slaying of Chan and Regacho along the national highway in Barangay Paing, Bantay town last Oct. 4.

"We strongly condemn the killing of Atty. Chan and his driver. I urge our law enforcement agencies to get the killers by hook or by crook," Singson said in sponsoring the resolution allocating P100,000 for the reward fund.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ provincial chapter also passed a resolution condemning the killing.

The IBP chapter, led by its president Alfredo Benzon and vice president Jessie Vizcarra, urged that an independent government panel conduct "a serious investigation" into the incident.

They said the victims were killed "at a time when they were only doing their duties as public servants." — With Mike Frialde