7 charged in Feb. 28 killing of Cavite newspaperman

IMUS, Cavite — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has filed murder charges against seven people, including two women, for the Feb. 28 killing of community paper columnist Arnulfo Villanueva in Naic, Cavite.

Superintendent Mario Sanga, CIDG regional officer for Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), said the murder complaint was based on testimonies of several witnesses and physical evidence they gathered.

Charged for the murder of Arnulfo Villanueva, columnist of Asian Star Express Balita, a weekly community paper based in Barangay Sta. Fe, DBB, Dasmariñas town, were Jose Allan Tayson, Melencio Argente, a certain Anna or Annie, a still unidentified woman and three unidentified men. All of them are still scot-free.

Villanueva was found sprawled dead near a nipa hut in Barangay Sabang, Naic town at about 9 p.m. of Feb. 28.

His body bore multiple gunshot wounds. He was believed shot at close range with a 12-gauge shotgun and a handgun.

Five spent cartridges of a 12-gauge shotgun were found near his body, while a slug of unknown caliber was imbedded in his head.

Chief Inspector Madzgani Mukaram, Cavite CIDG chief, said Villanueva was last seen passing by the house of a certain Rafael Bobis in Barangay Sabang at about 2:30 p.m. aboard a Suzuki motorcycle with a certain Anna or Annie as back-rider.

Mukaram ruled out speculations that Villanueva’s killing was "work-related," saying an old grudge between him and Tayson triggered it.

Based on the witnesses’ testimonies, the grudge arose when Tayson exchanged his refrigerator with Villanueva’s caliber .38 revolver.

Tayson was reportedly irked when he learned that the handgun was a "paltik" (homemade) and unserviceable.

The CIDG discovered that the sandals found near Villanueva’s body belonged to Tayson.