No arrests yet in slay of Bukidnon town mayor; P150K offered

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – The mayor of Impasug-ong, Bukidnon who was slain in an ambush by communist guerrillas last July 2 will be laid to rest today, as authorities have yet to arrest any of his killers.

Superintendent Michael Pareja, public information officer of the regional office, said three suspects in the ambush-killing of Mayor Mario Okinlay have been identified as Joven Yanggo, Efren Yanggo, and Ryan Daluniay, with a P50,000 bounty offered for each of them.

Pareja said police have given out pictures of the three suspects and the contact numbers of law enforcement units, including Task Force Okinlay headed by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group regional chief Pedro Austria, so civilians could provide helpful information.

Okinlay was killed by a sniper’s bullet while leading a convoy of municipal employees, escorted by policemen and soldiers, from a civic-medical mission in a village in Impasug-ong.

The New People’s Army has owned up to the attack, accusing Okinlay of anti-people and counter-revolutionary activities.       

Impasug-ong residents staged a rally last Monday to condemn their mayor’s killing.