Radio blocktimer suspects politician behind slay try

A RADIO blocktimer suspected that a politician was behind the attempt on his life.

Apolinario “Jun” Arigo Jr., 53, alleged that the local politician was the subject of his previous commentaries.

Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el Jr., director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said he talked to Arigo on Friday at the hospital where he was confined.

Natu-el said the blocktimer mentioned to him the name of the probable mastermind.

“Dako ang iyang pagduda nga usa ka politiko ang mastermind (He is greatly suspecting that a politician is the mastermind”, Natu-el said.

Natu-el refused to divulge the name of the politician aside from saying that this male politician is based in Cebu.

He said the police have yet to gather evidence or witnesses to support Arigo’s claim.

Natuel said the attack could be related to Arigo’s work as a radio blocktimer.

It was learned that Arigo served as a blocktimer in radio stations dyDD Bantay Radyo and dyRF during the May 13 election campaign.

Natu-el said it seemed that the perpetrator had no intention to kill Arigo.

“Murag warning or patagam lang (It seemed it was just a warning),” he said.

Natu-el said “Team Arigo” has been formed to investigate the incident. The team will be Chief Insp. Alexis Relado, chief of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB).

Arigo was about to board his Ford Escape SUV in the parking lot of SM Cebu City when he was shot in the buttocks around 4 p.m. Thursday.

Police said the gunman positioned himself outside the fence of the mall and was at least two meters from Arigo.

Arigo told police that he heard a gunshot and it was only about after three seconds that he noticed that he was wounded.

The gunman fled on a motorcycle driven by a cohort.

A slug from a caliber .45 pistol was recovered.

Natu-el said investigators are in the process of composing the facial composite of the assailant./CORRESPONDENT JHUNNEX NAPALLACAN AND CHITO O. ARAGON