Vice-mayor charged with murder

Manila: A newly elected vice-mayor in northern Luzon and his aides were charged with the murder of a journalist last week and firing on his house last month, a local paper said.

The Philippine National Police filed murder charges against Pacifico Velasco, elected vice-mayor of Bacarra, Ilocos Norter and Leonardo Banaag, his aide, for the killing of Jovelito Agustin, a radio commentator, on June 15, Superintendent Bienvenido Rayco, head of a task force investigating the case, told the Inquirer.

Rayco said Agustin's nephew, Joseph, who survived the motorcycle attack on the broadcaster, identified Banaag as the killer. Velasco was implicated in Agustin's murder because of his association with the suspected gunman.

"They were seen together before, during and after the May 10 elections," Rayco said.

Other Velasco aides, Ricky Acosta and Moymoy Baldemor, were charged with attempted murder and firing on Agustin's house on May 7.

"Velasco's car was used during the strafing of Agustin's house on May 7," Rayco explained.

The two charges were separately filed with the prosecutors offices in Laoag City and Ilocos Norte on Monday. As a commentator of dzJC-Aksyon Radio, Agustin reminded listeners about Velasco's conviction on graft charges at the Sandiganbayan in 2008.

The Court of Appeals has affirmed the anti-graft court's decision. It is pending resolution at the Supreme Court.

Velasco was a former Bacarra mayor and provincial board member before he won as vice-mayor in the May 10 elections.

Three journalists, including Agustin, were shot dead between June 14 and 19. Broadcaster Jesiderio Camangyan was killed in Manay, Davao Oriental on June 14; and Nestor Bedolido, in Digos City, Davao del Sur on June 19.

Their deaths took the tally of journalists murdered since 2001 to 103.

Meanwhile, Camangyan's wife, Ruth, has already identified his suspected killer, according to Mati City Senior Police Superintendent Jose Jeorge Corpuz. The police force has been monitoring the suspect, Corpuz said.

Camangyan, a broadcast journalist at Sunrise FM, was openly critical of the illegal loggers in Davao Oriental's East Coast. He was shot while hosting a singing contest in Makopa Village.

The US State Department on Monday urged authorities to bring to book those responsible for the murder of journalists.

Politicians, military and policemen have also been implicated as responsible for the assassinations of journalists.