Man in murder of HR prober, habal-habal driver surrenders
Local News • 22:15 PM Mon May 20, 2019
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By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
CIDG-BARMM in Cotabato City
COTABATO CITY - A man who claimed responsibility for the killing of a former TV reporter-turned human rights worker and a “habal-habal” driver surfaced and surrendered to police and Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi Monday.
Mayor Sayadi and Police Colonel James Gulmatico, chief of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CIDG-BARMM) said the man, in his 30s, claimed he shot dead “habal-habal” (motorcycle for hire) driver Pio Orteza and Archad Ayao, former ABS-CBN local reporter and currently human rights investigator at about 6:10 p.m. on May 1.
Upon his request, Gulmatico and Sayadi did not publicly name the suspect who voluntarily surrendered to authorities with bothered conscience.
The man, also “habal-habal” driver, claimed he had an altercation with Orteza earlier that led him to use force to get back at him.
Orteza had Ayao as his passenger on a motorbike along Ramon Rabago Avenue, Cotabato City when a man on separate motorbike opened fire on them. Orteza died on the spot while Ayao died in the hospital.
The suspect said his conscience had been bothering him so he decided to show up to face the consequences of his action.
The suspect, in front of local reporters, also sought forgiveness from the victims’ families.
Gulmatico said the CIDG will file double murder charges against the suspect now detained at CIDG-BARMM custodial facility.