NBI collars suspect of Samar mayor’s murder

By ELI C. DALUMPINES (PIA Samar)
February 21, 2007

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  After three weeks of close surveillance, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) based in Tacloban City finally arrested a suspect of the killing of Daram Mayor Benito Astorga who was gunned down last January 25, this year.

The NBI operatives arrested Arthur Ponay at around 3 p.m. Monday (February 19) in his house in Brgy. San Pablo, Catbalogan, Samar. The 32-year old Ponay was reported to be a bodyguard of Vice Mayor Bartolome Figueroa who is now the acting mayor of Daram.

An NBI official, in a phone interview, disclosed they have been monitoring the whereabouts of Ponay few days after the incident.

He said they have gathered corroborative statements from three witnesses, including a town councilor and a member of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), who was present when the shooting incident took place, positively identifying Ponay as the gunman.

On Monday, however, they successfully got hold of the suspect who was then visiting his family here at Samar’s capital.

Ponay is now facing a murder charge filed by NBI at a regional trial court here in Catbalogan for Mayor Astorga’s killing.

The Astorga family earlier dismissed the statement issued by the NPA’s Arnulfo Ortiz Command claiming responsibility of the killing. They insisted that the act has a political angle implicating a top political figure in the province.

The NBI official likewise revealed they have already felt the pressure exerted by a Samar politician. He said they are constantly receiving calls from the said politician to drop the case.