Charges filed vs 2 suspects in Bicol broadcaster's slay

MANILA, Philippines - Police have filed murder charges against two key suspects in the killing of freelance broadcaster Miguel Belen in Camarines Sur last July 9.

Investigators said Eric Vargas, 34, and Gina Bagacina were charged before the provincial prosecutor’s office of Camarines Sur for the slaying of 48-year-old, Iriga City-based radio man Belen.

Witnesses tagged Bagacina as the one who shot Belen while her accomplice drove the getaway motorcycle.

Belen, a reporter of dwEB FM, died at the hospital last July 31 or 20 days after the ambush.

Belen, who sustained seven gunshot wounds, was on his way home to Barangay San Jose Pagaraon in Nabua, Camarines Sur when he was attacked.

Police tracker teams have expanded their manhunt for Bagacina.

In a related development, police yesterday said they have identified the triggerman in last Sunday’s killing of Nueva Ecija tabloid publisher Edilberto Cruz.

Senior Superintendent Ricardo Marquez, Nueva Ecija police director, however, refused to identify the suspect pending his arrest.

“We have four pieces of circumstantial evidence at the scene of the ambush,” he said.

“We have already identified the suspect but we are gathering more evidence to pin him down in the slaying of Cruz,” he added.

Cruz was on his way home on board his motorcycle when he was waylaid along the Maharlika Highway in Barangay San Juan Accfa, Cabanatuan City. – With Mike Frialde and Ric Sapnu