Police detain soldier suspected in Pagadian journalist's murder

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police have detained a soldier who was implicated in the killing of a journalist in the southern Philippines, officials said Thursday. Officials said Army Sgt. Herbert Liguan, assigned with the 1st Infantry Division, is facing charges in the alleged killing of radio host Rolly Cañete, who was gunned down last January 20 in Pagadian City, capital of Zamboanga del Sur province. "We have the soldier in custody. We had a warrant for his arrest for the alleged killing of the journalist," said Superintendent Ramon Ochotorena, the provincial police chief. The 65-year old Canete was driving a motorcycle with his son on his way to the provincial Capitol office when one of two motorcycle-gunmen shot him in Cawit village in Pagadian City. His son survived the attack and positively identified the 46-year old soldier. Ochotorena said the military surrendered the soldier on Wednesday to the police in Pagadian City. "The Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation were tracking down the soldier until his surrender on Wednesday. The close coordination between law enforcement agencies and the military resulted in the recovery of the suspect," he said. Cañete hosted two radio programs in Pagadian City and was also working with Aurora Cerilles, the provincial governor, as information officer. The Philippines has been called one of the most dangerous countries for journalists to work in, second only to war-torn Iraq. According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), 81 journalists have been killed since the ouster of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. Of the figure, 44 have been murdered since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo assumed power in 2001. -GMANews.TV