Friday, June 29, 2007 Marines help track down broadcaster slay suspect By Bong Garcia
PHILIPPINE Marine troops stationed in the island province of Tawi-Tawi are assisting the police in the manhunt for the suspect in the killing of a government-run radio station broadcaster.
Naval Task Force 62 Chief Franco Pan said troops were deployed to help track down the whereabouts of the suspect who went into hiding after the incident.
The police in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) have identified the suspect in the ambush-slay of Radyo ng Bayan-Tawi-Tawi production supervisor Vicente Sumalpong as Nur Suang.
Sumalpong died from multiple gunshot wounds when he and two others were ambushed last Monday in Barangay Nalil, Bongao, the province' capital.
Sumalpong's co-worker, Vema Antham, 40, and nephew, Roilan Borja, who were together with him on a motorcycle, were wounded in the incident.
Pan disclosed that Marine forces conducted operations in one of the places where the suspect is believed to be hiding but yielded negative result.
The suspect is believed to be hiding either in Bongao or in nearby island town of Sanga-Sanga where he allegedly recently killed a guest relations officer.
The police said that Suang was identified by Sumalpong's companions as the one who shot them with automatic rifle.
Three other co-workers of Sumalpong reported to the police that they have been receiving death threats from an unknown group.
Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali, who knows Sumalpong, said the victim's death is a big loss for constituents of the province. The governor said Sumalpong is a person who is keen on helping others.
"The man who is helping them fight for their rights is now gone," Sadikul said of Sumalpong's death.
Sadikul said Sumalpong's killing also tainted the image of Tawi-Tawi since the province had been known as one of the peaceful places in Mindanao.
He said the incident is a setback in their efforts to lure investors to invest in Tawi-Tawi, especially in seaweed production and processing.
The province of Tawi-Tawi is known as one of the places that produce good quality seaweed.
Sumalpong's killing was the first that have taken place in Tawi-Tawi, the farthest province in the southern Philippines.
Sadikul urged the concerned authorities to solve the case as soon as possible.
