Suspect in radioman’s slay arrested in Iloilo – report

A suspect in the killing of a radio blocktimer in South Cotabato in 2005 was arrested in Iloilo City last weekend, an Iloilo news site reported early this week.

Police arrested Servando Servano Jr., 62, while he was about to ride a jeepney in Barangay Ungka in the city's Jaro district, The Daily Guardian reported.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Superintendent Marlon Tayaba said Servano was one of those charged for the killing of radio blocktimer Rolando Morales of RMN-DWMD in South Cotabato.

Morales, 43, was shot dead on July 3, 2005. He was riding his motorcycle along the national highway in Polomolok when eight men on four motorcycles gunned him down.

Servano, a resident of Polomolok in South Cotabato, was charged with murder before the Regional Trial Court Branch 39 in South Cotabato. A P140,000 reward is out for information leading to his arrest.

The report said Servano reportedly fled to Bayawan, Negros Oriental after the killing. In 2012, he sought shelter from the Knights of the Holy Cross of Jesus based in Barangay Balabago, Jaro.

Tayaba said Servano had been staying with Roy Lopez in Barangay Maribong in Lambunao, Iloilo. While in hiding, he reportedly used the aliases Federico Sarifa, Roy Lopez, Severino Soldevilla, Tatang and Father Jun.  — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News