10 face raps for vice mayor's slay

DAVAO CITY , Philippines   – At least 10 people will be formally charged for the killing of the vice mayor of Barira, Maguindanao in this city two months ago.

Vice Mayor Alexander Tomawis was slain by two assailants in front of his rented townhouse along Hillside Drive here last Nov. 28.

Senior Superintendent Pedro Cabatingan, Task Force Tomawis head and Southern Mindanao director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said in a television interview that they are now solidifying the pieces of evidence they have gathered against the suspects, who he refused to identify for now.

He also refused to say if the mastermind is among those to be charged in court.

What Cabatingan assured Tomawis’ family though is that they are doing their best to solve the killing.

Authorities earlier released the artist’s sketch of one of the two gunmen. Witnesses, however, said the sketch does not resemble the triggerman.

Investigators were “quiet” the past month, prompting observers to assume that the case would become one of the unsolved crimes in the city.

Cabatingan said though that they have been working all this time to ensure that the case will be solved soonest, and expressed confidence that they are on the right track.

Rumors were rife that some politicians in Maguindanao will be implicated in the case. Tomawis’ friends said the mastermind had offered P5 million for the hit job.