Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong (1st District, Oriental Negros) said she is hopeful that justice will be served to the slain victims and the wounded in the March 9 ambush in Barangay Manluminsag, La Libertad.

Limkaichong told the DAILY STAR in a phone interview that the arrest of William Paunilian, 35, a habal-habal driver from Manluminsag, will help shed light on the multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder cases filed against several suspects, who are allegedly linked to a politician in the first district. "My people will be vindicated. Justice will prevail," she said, adding that the mastermind of the dastardly criminal act may also be brought to court.

Limkaichong also said that Paunilian's statement when he was presented to the media by the police Friday reinforces the suspicion that the ambush was politically-motivated, and not carried out by the New People's Army that had earlier claimed responsibility it, saying that Barangay Aya chairman Lydio Baylon, one of those killed, had committed crimes against the people.

But Paunilian had vowed to reveal everything he knows about the ambush in court, saying it was not the rebels but a politician and his henchmen behind the crime.

Paunilian, who was arrested Aug. 13 in Makati City, is the second suspect to fall, after Sandalo Mongolore, but three other suspects, Fernando "Boy" Dorimon, Fregie Aureliano and Tikyo Mainit, and other John Does are still at-large. The local government had earlier allocated P200,000 for rewards of P50,000 each for the capture of Paunilian, Dorimon, Aureliano and Mainit.*JG

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