Suspect in ex-PDI reporter slay charged

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—The family of Melinda “Mei” Magsino sees a ray of hope in finally finding justice for the slain former Inquirer correspondent after police filed a murder case against a suspect following a statement from a witness last month.

Supt. Danilo Mendoza, Batangas City police chief, said police filed a murder complaint against Edgardo Paredes, a resident of Mabitac town, Laguna province, at the Batangas City prosecutor’s office on Feb. 4.

Mendoza said Paredes is also a suspect in the killing of a village councilor in Bauan town in Batangas in 2013.

In a phone interview on Thursday, Mendoza said Paredes’ role in Magsino’s killing came up as a lone witness sought authorities in January.

Police had shown the witness footage taken from a security camera and a picture from the Bauan case file. The witness, Mendoza said, confirmed that Paredes was the same man who shot and killed Magsino.

Magsino, 40, was gunned down on April 13 last year on a busy street just a few meters from her apartment in Batangas City. A security camera captured an image of the gunman shooting Magsino at close range before fleeing on a motorcycle driven by another man.

In a text message, Magsino’s cousin, Christine, said the family had no idea who Paredes was, but welcomed the development in the case.

“We thought her (Magsino’s) case had already been forgotten,” said Christine. Marrah Erika Lesaba-Rabe, Inquirer Southern Luzon; and Maricar Cinco