THE slaying in broad daylight of a former reporter of Bombo Radyo Dagupan last March 23 is more likely to have been business-related rather than politically-motivated, according to the police.

Senior Supt. Marlou Chan, officer-in-charge of the Pangasinan Police, said the killing of Melanio Balolong, 62, of Barangay Bonuan Boquig in Dagupan, may be related with the operation of the Dagupan City Transport Holding Area on M. H. del Pilar Street.

Chan also noted that there is an unconfirmed report that Balolong is a campaign leader of a candidate in Dagupan whose name he declined to divulge.

He said the police are validating all these reports to establish the motive behind the killing.

Police Regional Director Ricardo Marquez has ordered a thorough investigation of the case when he called an emergency meeting with police officials in Pangasinan shortly after the March 24 signing of peace covenant of candidates in the province promising to work for peaceful, honest and credible 2013 elections.

The slaying of Balolong happened at about 11:00 a.m. of March 23 inside his nipa hut while he was tending to his fish pen in Sitio Calamiong Barangay Bonuan Gueset.

The lone gunman, on board a black motorcycle with the plate number covered by a cardboard, drove to Sitio Calamiong and asked residents where he can find Balolong.

The unsuspecting residents pointed to the hut of Balolong.

Witnesses said they overheard the suspect asked the victim if he was Mel Balolong then opened fire after the latter answered “yes”.

Balolong fell into the river and the killer fired several more shots at the body.

After leaving the crime scene, the suspect reportedly told the residents whom he saw on while walking to his motorcycle “Patay na yan, kunin ninyo na sa tubig“.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Christopher Abrahano, officer-in-charge of the Dagupan Police, said they now have a lead on the suspect but declined to give further details.

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