Murder raps filed vs gunman in General Santos media slay

MANILA, Philippines—The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Wednesday filed murder charges against the primary suspect in the  killing of a media executive in General Santos City early January, CIDG chief, Police Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said.

Pagdilao said that CIDG investigators handling the case of Cris Guarin, a publisher of Tatak Bigtime News, a local newspaper based in General Santos City, filed charges of murder against Marvin Palabrica around 10:30 a.m.

Region 12 CIDG chief, Police Senior Superintendent Albert Ignatius Ferro, however, said that Palabrica is still at large and now a subject of manhunt operation.

He said that Palabrica was positively identified by two witnesses as the gunman in the killing of Guarin last January 5.

Guarin was on board a Kia Pride Sedan with his wife and daughter when two men suddenly emerged alongside their car and fired seven gunshots at Guarin, which caused his death.

Ferro said that further investigation was being conducted.