Cops tag member of rival tribe in Kalinga bet's killing

Police have tagged a member of a rival tribe in the murder of Kalinga vice governor Rommel Diasen, a gubernatorial bet in the province gunned down on Saturday, and are considering dropping politics as a possible motive in the killing. Radio station dzEC reported Monday that the Philippine National Police has launched a search for the prime suspect, identified as Joel Melot, whom PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr said is a resident of Magbunao village in Kalinga and a member of a rival tribe. Pagdilao said this can prompt them to rule out politics in the murder of Diasen, who was running as an independent for governor in the May 14 elections. Over the weekend, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered a full investigation into the murder of Diasen, who was shot dead while talking to supporters when he was on the way to a campaign sortie in the province’s capital town of Tabuk. He died in a hospital past 2 p.m. Saturday, having sustaining six gunshot wounds. Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials in the province said they are not yet placing Kalinga in the list of poll hotspots. Comelec Cordillera head Armando Velasco and provincial election supervisor Thomas Uyam said they want to see the investigation report of the police first before making any decision. For his part, Kalinga police commander Senior Superintendent Severino Cruz said they are still looking at the angles of tribal war or political rivalry. Diasen was running as an independent candidate for governor. He originally ran under the Lakas party for a congressional seat but changed his political plans at the last minute. A member of the Magnao tribe, Diasen’s rivals for governor were Kalinga Representative Laurence Wacnang and lawyer Warren Luyaben. -GMANews.TV