Murder raps filed vs 3 in death of Davao del Sur writer

Police in Davao del Sur on Wednesday filed murder charges against three suspects in the killing of local writer Nestor Bedolido, a local police official said. The complaint, filed with the Digos City Prosecutors’ Office, identified two of the suspects as Artemio Timosan Jr. and Ritchie Mirafuentes. Both are still at large as of posting time. “The witness identified the gunman Ritchie Mirafuentes since said suspect became his friend in playing cards and also saw him shot Nestor Bedolido during the actual incident," said Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa, provincial commander of the Davao del Sur police. “The witness also identified suspect Artemio Timosan Jr. whom he knew personally to be conniving with the gunman near the crime scene minutes before the incident and simultaneously fled from the crime scene on board another getaway motorcycle," he added. Unidentified driver Dela Rosa said they have yet to identify the driver of the getaway motorcycle. Bedolido was shot six times outside his karaoke pub last Saturday and died while being treated in a hospital. Dela Rosa said they are still investigating the motive of the killing. “Di pa natin ma-establish kung ano motive hangga’t di natin nahuhuli suspects (We cannot establish the motive until the suspects are arrested). All we have are theories," he said. Bedolido was earlier reported to be a writer for the local newspaper Kastigador, but police said he wrote some articles for the provincial newsletter in 2007. Politically motivated? Bedolido’s son had earlier told a local radio that his father’s killing maybe linked to local politics. He said his father supported a losing gubernatorial candidate in last month’s elections, and was also an editor of a weekly magazine published by a local politician. Bedolido’s death came just days after two other journalists were killed in separate incidents during the week. On Tuesday, radio broadcaster Jovelito Agustin of dzJC Aksyon Radyo Laoag was ambushed in Laoag City in Ilocos Norte while on his way home. He died while receiving treatment. A day before that, Desiderio Camangyan, a radio anchor of Sunshine FM, was killed with a single shot to the head while hosting a singing contest in Manay town in Mati, Davao Oriental. - KBK, GMANews.TV