P1-M reward offered in poll exec’s killing

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY – Re-electionist City Mayor Edward Hagedorn offered yesterday a P1-million reward for the arrest of the killers of a Commission on Elections (Comelec) official here last Tuesday night.

The victim, Peternillo Amorin, 36, the city’s assistant election officer, was shot in the head with a caliber .45 pistol after taking his supper in an eatery about 20 meters away from his office.

Police have formed a special task force to go after Amorin’s killers. The National Bureau of Investigation is also conducting a parallel investigation.

Police released yesterday an artist sketch of one of the gunmen, whom witnesses described as about 40 years old or above, about five feet, six inches tall, has curly hair and clad in light blue T-shirt and denim pants.

Probers still had no clues on the possible motive behind the killing of Amorin, who was working overtime Tuesday night when he was slain.

Witnesses said the gunman grabbed Amorin from behind as he was walking back to his office, and then shot him in the back of the head.

They said the man continued firing at Amorin even as lay prostrate on the ground. He then escaped toward the city’s central district on board a motorcycle driven by another man.

Police found seven empty caliber .45 shells at the crime scene.

Amorin’s relatives believe that the killing had something to do with the May 14 elections. The victim’s niece, Jubell Gemino, 23, said her uncle had confided that he refused a favor from someone.

"I know they are responsible for this. No one would dare do this, except them," she said, without naming names.

Amorin’s best friend, Elmer Zita, 38, believes that the intense local political squabble had cost his friend’s life. "Nothing else, it’s definitely politically motivated," he said.

The Comelec has tagged Puerto Princesa as one of the three "areas of concern" in Palawan due to intense political rivalries. The two others are Balabac and Bataraza towns.

Hagedorn is being challenged by retired police general Eduardo Matillano.

In spite of the killing, lawyer Ma. Buenconsejo Lim-Narrazid, the city’s election supervisor, vowed that they would be fair and independent in discharging their duties. – With Evelyn Macairan, Arnell Ozaeta and Ed Amoroso