Philippine police charge five for killing broadcaster (Roundup)

Jan 26, 2011, 7:35 GMT

Manila - Police filed on Wednesday a criminal complaint against five people allegedly involved in the killing of a radio broadcaster in the western Philippines.

Senior Superintendent Rolando Amurao, Palawan province police chief, said among those charged was lawyer Romeo Seratubias, who allegedly owned the gun used to kill Gerardo Ortega.

Ortega, 47, a local radio commentator, was shot dead Monday in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, 600 kilometres west of Manila.

The alleged gunman, Marlon Dichaves, was captured shortly after the killing. Police said they found the murder weapon on him and traced it to Seratubias, an aide of former Palawan governor Joel Reyes.

Amurao said Seratubias claimed that he sold the gun several days before the killing, but police records showed he was still the registered owner.

'It's up to him to prove that he sold the firearm,' he said.

Police also charged two accomplices in the shooting and the man who allegedly made a downpayment to Dichaves.

Amurao said police would investigate Reyes for possible involvement in the killing. The former governor is currently on a trip abroad, and would be invited for questioning when he returns.

Dichaves told investigators he was to be paid 150,000 pesos (3,374 dollars) for killing Ortega, a staunch critic of Reyes for alleged corruption, police said.

He said he was given 25,000 pesos as initial payment and for operational expenses.

Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn, who spoke with Dichaves, said it was a politically motivated attack.

'From the initial findings, we know that this is politics and vengeance killing,' he said.

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