Suspect in ex-broadcaster’s slay nabbed

NAGA CITY—After eight years in hiding, the suspect in the killing of a former broadcaster in a town in Camarines Sur was arrested in the province of Aurora on Saturday.

Camarines Sur police arrested suspect Efren Barrosa in the town of Maria Aurora.

Barrosa is the suspected gunman in the killing of Ronaldo Julia, a former broadcaster, on Aug. 15, 2008.

Senior Supt. Walfredo Pornillos, Camarines Sur police director, said in a report that a team of policemen from the Bicol region and Central Luzon arrested Barrosa, 49, in a house in the Aurora town shortly before noon.

Barrosa is facing a murder case filed at the Regional Trial Court Branch 19 in Naga City under the jurisdiction of Judge Zenaida Aurora Garfin, who had issued a warrant of arrest for Barrosa.

Personal grudge

Police have identified personal grudge as the motive for the killing of Julia.

Bonj Julia, eldest son of the victim, said he felt relief that his father’s killer had been finally caught after eight years.

Two days after Julia was gunned down, Barrosa surrendered to the Camarines Sur police, claiming his life is in danger. Police, however, released him to his lawyer.

Barrosa is a former councilor of San Isidro village in Magarao town.

Julia had been a broadcaster since the 1990s at the local station dzGE. When he was killed he was already out of the broadcast work but working for his brother who became the mayor of Magarao town.

Barrosa and Julia grew up together in the town.