Cop, 8 others arrested and charged for Palawan lawyer’s slay

THE GUNMAN A screenshot from the dashcam footage retrieved by the Palawan police from the car of slain lawyer Eric Magcamit shows the gunman casually walking toward a waiting motorcycle driven by another man after shooting the lawyer along the national highway in Sitio Caraniogan, Barangay Malinao, Narra, Palawan, on Nov. 17. —PHOTO COURTESY OF PALAWAN PROVINCIAL POLICE OFFICE

MANILA, Philippines — A police officer and eight other suspects were arrested and are now facing murder charges for the killing of Palawan lawyer Eric Jay Magcamit last Nov. 17.

In a statement on Thursday, the Philippine National Police said among those indicted was Police Senior Master Sergeant Ariel Pareja.

Pareja is now under restrictive custody of the Palawan Police Provincial Office.

Also named respondents in the complaint filed on Wednesday before the Palawan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office were Jazer del Rosario, Marcelino Quioyo, and six other John Does.

Mimaropa PNP Regional Director Brig. Gen. Pascual Muñoz said Pareja has been moonlighting as a bodyguard for Quioyo who was involved in a court case over a land dispute where Magcamit was representing the other party.

Aside from a criminal case, administrative charges are also being prepared against Pareja based on his indictment in the murder case, Muñoz said.

Magcamit was shot dead by two unidentified assailants in the southern Palawan town of Narra last Nov. 17. He was on his way to Quezon town in Puerto Princesa when the two suspects flagged down his Toyota Innova in Narra town. [ac]