Thursday, September 27, 2007 Principal suspect in Misajon killing falls
AFTER years of hiding, the principal suspect in the killing a TV newscaster fell into the hands of intelligence operatives at 9 p.m. Sunday at London KTV, General Luis St., Bagbaguin, Valenzuela City.
Rico Agillo Jr., alias RikRik and Jimmy Saril, is also the region’s most wanted person.
A team from the Regional Intelligence Office (RIO) 6, led by Police Chief Inspector Jose Fernando B Bonita Jr., undertook the operation to arrest Agillo.
Agillo, 25, of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, was the prime suspect in the robbery incident that led to the killing of Chris Misajon, former anchorman of Ratsada--an afternoon television news program of GMA 7, on the evening of September 20, 2004 in Barangay San Rafael, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
Agillo has been charged for the incident together with co-accused Richard Barrios, Rosenie Gonzales alias “Rodney, Inday, Kalbo” of Passi City, Michael Sombise alias “Sonny Boy”, and one other unidentified person.
The arrest was made by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Lolita Contreras-Besana in line with the charges for robbery with homicide filed against the suspects.
Agillo is among Region 6’s most wanted persons. There is a reward of P140,000 for his arrest.
Richard Barrios, Rosenie Gonzales, and Michael Sombise are presently detained and are facing trial.
Gonzales and Sombise tagged Agillo as the one who shot Misajon, who sustained gunshot wounds on his stomach and died while being treated at the Iloilo Doctor's Hospital.
Agillo denied his companion’s claims and countered it was Gonzales who shot Misajon and robbed him of his personal belongings before escaping.
Agillo said that Gonzales and Sombise were the masterminds and they initially targeted a businesswoman who often passed by the San Rafael road, where Misajon parked his car.
He added that when their original target did not show up, they turned their attention on Misajon who was inside his vehicle with a woman.
"Gonzales got his gun and poked it to Misajon. When I heard a gunshot, I ran for the highway and went home. I was not the one who shot Misajon," Agillo said.
Agillo said he is willing to testify against his companion.
Police Chief Supt. Wilfredo V. Dulay Sr. commended the operating team and at the same time enjoined all police units to intensify their campaign against wanted persons. (RPS/With press release)
