Police arrest alleged gunman in slay of former broadcaster

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A man arrested on robbery charges has been identified by a witness as the one who shot and killed former broadcaster Aldion Layao on April 8, police said Wednesday.

Senior Inspector Jay Francia, commander of the Calinan district police station, said Petronilo Demicillo of Upper Lacson community in Calinan was presented at a police lineup where he was identified by a witness as the gunman in the Layao killing.

“The suspect was initially arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for robbery but when presented to the witnesses, he was positively pinpointed as the gunman,” Francia told the Inquirer.

It was learned that Demicillo, 46, once served as a barangay tanod (community watchman) before Layao became head of barangay Upper Lacson.

He said follow-up investigation showed the witness’ identification of Demicillo as the gunman was credible.

Francia said Layao was instrumental in the issuance of the warrant of arrest against Demicillo in connection with the robbery charges against him.

Because of that, he said, the suspect might have harbored a grudge against Layao.

Layao was on his sports utility vehicle when he was shot by one of two men on a motorcycle around 9:30 p.m. on April 8. He had just attended a meeting and was on his way home.

Cheryl Amor, a television reporter who worked with Layao on a program funded by then House Speaker Prospero Nograles, said that Layao had received death threats before he was killed.

Police had earlier considered politics as the probable reason for Layao’s killing because “it was common knowledge here that he had some conflict with some of his kagawad (councilmen),” Francia said.

He said with the identification of the suspect, the police were now a step closer to solving the Layao murder case.