Suspect in British resort owner's killing falls

At least one of the suspects in the recent killing of a British resort owner in Negros Occidental was arrested over the weekend, police said on Monday. Superintendent Armando Tubongbanua, the head of a task force looking into the killing of Anthony Nicholas, said suspect Claro Barcoma was arrested Friday night. Tubongbanua said witnesses identified Barcoma as among those allegedly involved in the shooting of Nicholas in Sipalay City on September 6, the news site Visayan Daily Star reported on Monday. He said Barcoma, who is now detained at the Sipalay police jail, faces charges of illegal possession of firearms. Police armed with a search warrant issued by Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles searched Barcoma's house in Brgy. 2, Sipalay City, and found a cal-.38 revolver. At least two men gunned down Nicholas, 65, in front of his wife and helper. Nicholas owned the Hijo Beach Resort, Matlag farm house, Hijo Store, and Matlag Town House in Sipalay City. His killing sparked concern among other foreign nationals doing business in the province. Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. offered a P500,000 cash reward for information that may lead to the arrest of the suspects. Police initially ruled out robbery as the two suspects did not ask for money, although they accepted the cash from the victim's wife. Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation is following up three possible motives including robbery, dispute over property, and politics. –VVP, GMANews.TV