Suspect in Oriental Mindoro vice mayor’s slay surrenders

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna — The principal suspect in the ambush-slay of Vice-Mayor Juvy Magsino of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro last February voluntarily surrendered here yesterday to deny his alleged involvement in the crime.

Reynante Antenor, 30, a resident of Sampaga, Batangas City, was accompanied by Sto. Tomas, Batangas Mayor Armand Sanches to police headquarters here at 10:30 a.m.

Chief Superintendent Alejandro Lapinid, police regional director of the MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), and Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Varilla, police regional director for CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) guaranteed Antenor’s safety and vowed to honor "all the constitutional rights due to the suspect".

Through his lawyer Edwin Sulit, Antenor denied participation in the ambush-slay of Magsino and her companion, Leyma Fortu, 23, a human rights advocate, on Feb. 13 in Barangay Amugis, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

Sulit said Antenor was attending a wedding ceremony in Batangas City when the crime was committed.

He said he will ask the court and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a re-investigation of the case so that the "truth would come out and justice be served."

Sulit also denied allegations that Antenor was being coddled by the family of Mayor Eduardo Dimacuha of Batangas City. Antenor is reportedly a nephew of Dimacuha.

Varilla and Lapinid said "Antenor will be given his day in court."

Last Friday, Mimaropa and Calabarzon police raided four houses and a construction yard owned by the Dimacuhas in various areas in Batangas City reportedly meant to flush out Antenor. Police failed to locate Antenor but seized a cache of firearms and assorted ammunitions.

Lapinid said the seized firearms were licensed.

Sanchez, mayors’ league president of Batangas, said Antenor’s surrender followed a week-long negotiation with Mimaropa and Calabarzon police.

Antenor was pointed to by witnesses as one of the two motorcycle-riding men who waylaid Magsino and Fortu. Witnesses described Antenor as five feet and three inches tall, stout with fair complexion, all of which matched Antenor’s physical characteristics. — With Arnell Ozaeta and Ed Amoroso