Footage leads to identity of DENR exec killer

TUGUEGARAO CITY—The man who allegedly shot and killed a forestry official in Sanchez Mira, Cagayan, has been identified and charged with murder at the provincial prosecutor’s office on Tuesday.

Senior Supt. Mao Aplasca, Cagayan police director, said Adorable Caligan Jr., alias “Boyet,” of Claveria town, was identified through footage from a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera, that showed him shooting and killing forestry specialist Melania Dirain in Dirain’s office on the night of Feb. 7.

Caligan, however, remains at large.

Dirain was killed inside the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) in Sanchez Mira. She was talking with a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) messenger, Isaias Cereniado, past 7 p.m. when she was attacked. Cereniado, who witnessed the shooting, was unhurt.

Aplasca said the CCTV footage taken from two of three cameras at the DENR office helped investigators identify Caligan.

Identified by sister

He said Antonette Balanay, the victim’s sister, identified Caligan. He said Balanay had told investigators that she had seen Caligan a few times in their hometown in Claveria.

Aplasca said the identity of the mastermind would be uncovered as soon as a team of members of the Aparri police’s criminal investigation and detection group and the provincial and regional police offices gather all leads on the crime.

“The biggest lead, so far, has been job-related as she (Dirain) was probably set to go back to her office. We have been [trying to identify] the person who called her and asked her to return to her office,” Aplasca said.

He said Balanay had told investigators that her sister was already home when she received a call instructing her to return to her office.

Key conversation

Balanay heard Dirain as saying, “Yes sir, yes sir, pabalik na ako ng office (I am on my way back to the office),” Aplasca said.

“A superior [officer probably] called her so we are having a good lead now. The mastermind will be known soon,” he said.

The DENR in Cagayan Valley has offered P250,000 as a reward for people who could give information that would lead to the arrest of Caligan.

Benjamin Tumaliuan, DENR regional director, said the money was pooled from the representation and travel allowances of DENR employees.

Dirain, the first woman in Cagayan Valley to be designated as forest specialist, assumed her post only last month at the Sanchez Mira Cenro.