Family offers P2M for arrest of mayor assassins

CALBAYOG CITY, Philippines — Twenty days after City Mayor Reynaldo Uy was murdered at Hinabangan town in Samar, the Uy family yesterday raised a P2-million reward to anyone who could pinpoint the real assassin.

The mayor's eldest daughter, Jessica Uy-Delgado, in an exclusive interview with The FREEMAN, said the family decided to put up the amount, aside from the P1.2 million bounty by the DILG and the police.

The family's reward offer will be for any witness who could testify and identify the killer. "But the witness must go directly to us. We don't care about the money. All we care about is the justice na kailangan makuha ng aming ama at sa buong Samar," said Delgado.

Delgado, in her statement, said the family has strong doubt over the true identity of the suspects, as shown in the artist's sketches presented by the police.

"Hindi kami naniniwala kasi the police posted those sketches in every walls (around the city and towns), without first sitting on the table to discuss these things with us. So, kung kami ang tatanungin, hindi kami naniniwala na ito ang pumatay sa daddy namin," Delgado said.

The mayor’s daughter welcomed however any independent investigating body to shed light on the case. She has been dismayed that no investigating agencies have ever talk to their family since the killing.

"Wala pong kahit isang agency na nag-conduct ng investigation or nakikipag-coordinate sa amin. Wala ni isa. So nagugulat lang ho kami na nakikita naming ang mga newspapers at TV na ganito na ang nangyayari. Nag-create ng confusion sa mga supporters ni daddy and they were given false hope," said Delgado. 

Delgado further told The FREEMAN about the family's doubts on the impartiality of the investigation on the case by the Task Force Uy, which was created by Police Regional Office-8 director Chief Supt. Arnold Revilla.

Since the killing of the mayor, the task force has yet to identify and arrest the suspects and file criminal charges against them, said Delgado.

On May 5, President PNoy Aquino went to this city to pay his respect to the slain mayor and order Revilla to fasttrack the investigation.

PNP Chief Director General Raul Bacalzo, in an earlier visit, also ordered PRO-8 to suspend permits to carry firearms and put up checkpoints around Samar province to ensure the safety of civilians.

Mayor Uy will be laid to rest at the city's St. Ignatius Cemetery this Saturday, May 21. – THE FREEMAN