Village watchman tagged in slaying of Pacquiao’s police bodyguard

Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines—Police authorities said on Wednesday they had identified a suspect behind Sunday’s slaying of a close-in security aide of Sarangani Representative and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

Senior Police Officer 4 Rex Diongon, Makar police station investigator, said witnesses had identified Ernesto Guindolman, 26, a barangay tanod (village watchman) of Apopong village – which Paquiao’s younger brother, Rogelio, chairs – as the one who stabbed SPO3 Rey Edradan dead.

Edraran was visiting a Rowena Cabaniog, who happened to be Guindolman’s former live-in partner, in Barangay Labangal, when the victim was attacked.

Police said jealousy might have prompted Guindolman to stab the police officer before fleeing, forcibly taking with him Cabaniog and her two children.

Diongon said a manhunt was launched against Guindolman.