PUERTO PRINCESA CITY?A reward of P200,000 has been offered by Mayor Edward Hagedorn for information leading to the arrest of the killers of a retired naval officer, his wife, daughter and two relatives. They were found hacked to death in the family residence in a naval camp here.

The bodies of the victims?identified by police as retired Lt. Comm. Ernesto Paiton, 59; his wife Chief Petty Officer Carmelita Paiton, 55; their daughter Erlita Paiton, 21, a nurse; their niece Sharon Cabatuan, 19; and nephew Renato Cabatuan, 17?were found by two other relatives, both students at a local university, at around 6 p.m. on Monday upon their return from school.

The Paiton residence is inside the Officers? Village right across from the headquarters of Naval Forces West in Barangay San Miguel, Puerto Princesa.

?We have ruled out robbery as a motive and are looking at some leads to hopefully break the case open. It could be work-related,? Senior Supt. Cesar Miranda, chief of the Puerto Princesa police, yesterday told the Inquirer.

Scene of the crime investigators reported that Carmelita Paiton had more than P9,000 in cash in her pockets when found, thus ruling out a violent robbery.

They also said the killers had tried vainly to set the house on fire.

A report from The Associated Press said a son of the Paitons had found the bodies. Their hands were tied and their mouths taped shut.

Longtime residents

Miranda said a joint investigating body had been formed with the naval command.

When interviewed yesterday afternoon, AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. was in the process of getting background information on the Paiton couple.

He said he had been informed that the Paitons lived for 30 years in Palawan, where they established their businesses and property.

Commodore Paiton was last assigned at the AFP Western Command based in Puerto Princesa before he retired three years ago, Mabanta said.

?We hope that the police authorities investigating this would be able to identify the perpetrators as soon as possible,? he said.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo David Jr., who were in Zamboanga City yesterday, were yet unaware of the murders.

Ready to help PNP

David said he had received only sketchy reports of the massacre, and added that it was a police matter.

Upon the discovery of the bodies on Monday, Comm. Orwen Cortez, commander of Naval Forces West, ordered Navy personnel to secure the crime scene until the arrival of police investigators, according to Navy spokesperson Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo.

He said the AFP and the Navy were outraged by the killings and would extend help to the Philippine National Police looking into the crime.

Arevalo said the PNP was leading the investigation.

?We will provide any assistance needed so as to make sure that the perpetrators of this dastardly act shall be prosecuted and penalized,? Arevalo said in a text message.

?The Navy leadership under Rear Adm. Danilo Cortez expresses its deep sympathy and prayers to the bereaved family,? he added. Reports from Redempto Anda, Inquirer Southern Luzon; Dona Z. Pazzibugan in Manila; Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao