Half million pesos reward offered for lead in Olea killing

Naga City (June 17 2011) – Camarines Sur Governor L-Ray Villafuerte has offered a reward money amounting to 0.5 million pesos to anyone who can identify the gunman and mastermind of the ambush-slay of Romeo Olea.

But aside from Villafuerte's statements that the bounty shall come from his personal fund and that the reward and conveyance of information shall be treated with utmost confidentiality, details as to how the reward system shall be implemented and who would implement it are still wanting. They are still being mapped out according to the governor.

Villafuerte has condemned the killing as an assault to press freedom and hopes the reward money can help convince potential witnesses to come out.

Police Provincial Director Procopio Lipana earlier admitted that the Task Force Olea is hitting a snag in its investigation because no witness has so far surfaced.

But Lipana  gives the assurance that the local police is already following some leads on the killing but he could not divulge the details as yet.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has also stepped up its investigation upon the order of President Noynoy Aquino, with DILG Secretary Robredo personally handling the case.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is also conducting a parallel investigation.

Meanwhile, Provincial Board Member Charina Pante of the3rd district of Camarines Sur has urged members of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Camarines Sur chapter to come up with suggestions on how to protect media practitioners.

She said she can submit a resolution to the Provincial Board that shall urge congress to pass a law that will give more protection to media.