Suspect in broadcaster’s slay attempt surrenders

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

CAGAYAN DE ORO -- The suspect in the shooting of broadcaster Michael James Licuanan of Bombo Radyo surrendered to police in Jasaan town, Misamis Oriental on Monday.

Baldomero N. Pajo, 29, a resident of Barangay Natubo in Jasaan Misamis Oriental, yielded around 3 p.m. Monday, said Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) Director Senior Superintendent Gerardo Rosales.

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Pajo was immediately turned over to the Maharlika Headquarters where he is now detained.

CAGAYAN DE ORO. A policeman takes the fingerprints of Baldomero N. Pajo, one of the suspects in the assassination attempt of broadcaster Michael James Licuanan aka Bombo James Dacoycoy. Pajo surrendered to operatives of Jasaan Police Station on Monday. (Joey P. Nacalaban)

Pajo has been tagged as one of the suspects in the slay attempt of Licuanan, also known as Bombo James Dacoycoy, on November 24, 2011.

Pajo, a “habal-habal” driver, said he surrendered to clear his name.

“I surrendered because I am innocent of the crime. I even tried to commit suicide because of this. I don’t even know that person (Licuanan),” he said in the dialect.

Pajo denied allegation that he went to the station of Bombo Radyo a few hours before Licuanan was shot.

He said he was in Jasaan at that time because it was also the birthday of one of his relatives.

Pajo said he doesn’t even know his alleged co-accused, a certain Wenceslao M. Diaz.

“I was not hiding. I was working as a laborer in a construction site in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental,” he said.

Mayor Vicente Emano said he ordered Rosales to present the suspect to Licuanan.

Licuanan, for his part, said he is happy with this development.

“Maybe this is a sign that justice will be given not only to me but to all journalists in the country,” he said.

JB Deveza, safety officer of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, said the case should not be treated as solved despite the surrender of one of the suspects.

“This is not yet solved unless someone is convicted in court. As of now, we should treat him still as a suspect,” Deveza said.

On January 2, the City Prosecutor’s Office recommended the filing of frustrated murder against Pajo in court after the prosecutors found probable cause “that the crime has been committed and that respondents are probably guilty.” (With Michael Andrew W. Yu of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)