Land dispute seen as motive in Palawan lawyer slay

Investigators are looking at land dispute as the possible motive in the killing of Palawan lawyer Eric Jay Magcamit, the chief of Mimaropa police said on Monday.

"Ang possible motive ng killing is the land dispute in Isugod, Quezon, Palawan kasi nakita po natin mayroon silang counter-charges," Police Brigadier General Pascual Muñoz said at a press briefing.

"Hindi na nila ma-resolve 'yung kanilang mga issues, nakakalungkot na nag-result dito sa pagpatay kay Attorney Magcamit," he added.

Criminal complaints have already been filed against the suspects in killing. The alleged mastermind, Marcelino Quioyo, a party in the land dispute, surrendered to the police last Friday, citing fear for his life.

Also facing murder raps was Police Senior Master Sergeant Ariel Pareja, who, according to the police, was moonlighting as a bodyguard for Quioyo. Pareja is presently under the restrictive custody of the Palawan Police Provincial Office.

Police are also validating the information that one of the suspects, identified as Jazer del Rosario, was a former member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

"Vine-verify pa namin, Army raw siya na nag-AWOL. We are still verifying the truthfulness of the information that he is a former member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," Muñoz said.

Magcamit was driving along the national highway in Narra, Palawan, on November 17 when he was flagged down and shot by two suspects, according to police. —KBK, GMA News