Kin of slain Masbate teacher offer reward

NAGA CITY—The family of slain teacher Loida Pagatpat yesterday offered a P100,000 reward to anyone who could identify her killers, the Masbate police said.

Pagatpat, 51, was shot dead in Antipolo Elementary School in Palanas, Masbate, while having class before noon of Feb. 3.

The gunman, armed with a .45-cal. pistol, barged into the classroom and killed

Pagatpat in front of her pupils, who panicked and ran out the room as their teacher was being shot. The gunman fled on foot with a lookout.

Senior Supt. Heriberto Olitoquit, Masbate police chief and head of the task force investigating the case, said in a phone interview that police have released a sketch of one of the suspects and are now evaluating information from witnesses.

People could send pieces of information on the killing by sending text messages to 0919-3439789 or by calling 5882332, said Olitoquit.

Olitoquit said personal grudge could be the primary reason for the killing of Pagatpat, a resident of Antipolo, Palanas.

“She was suspected to have connections with communist guerillas that allegedly killed a village official last year,” said Olitoquit, quoting initial findings of the task force.