The investigation into the killing of Labor Arbiter Phibun Pura yesterday took a new twist after his alleged assassin tested negative for gunpowder nitrates, as indicated by the result of a paraffin test conducted on him by the PNP Crime Laboratory.

Supt. Joseph Thomas Martir, Talisay police chief, yesterday said the absence of gunpowder nitrates on the hands of RPA-ABB member Edgar Nicor who allegedly shot Pura, may have been influenced by wind directions, or he must have been wearing a jacket or was wet, when the crime was committed.

The result of the paraffin test is not conclusive, Martir said.

A .45 caliber pistol with three magazines containing bullets were recovered from Nicor, while seven empty shells were found at the crime scene, he said.

Nicor was also shot dead, allegedly by Kenneth Tirthdas, brother-in-law of Pura, outside a cockpit in Brgy. Zone 14, Talisay City , on Sunday.

Martir said the filing of charges against those responsible for the death of Nicor, will also rely on testimonies of witnesses.

While Tirthdas has failed to resurface yet, Martir said they were furnished with the gun licenses of his 9mm Glock pistol, which will expire on May 31 this year.

RPA-ABB spokesman Victorino Sumulong has clarified that what Nicor did was not sanctioned by their organization.

Rafael Coscolluela, a representative of the government to the Joint Enforcement Monitoring Committee, said the Local Monitoring Team will investigate the incident, and submit its report to JEMC for deliberations.

The RPA-ABB and its political wing, Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa, entered into peace agreement with the government in year 2000.

JEMC supervises the implementation of peace agreement between the government and the RPM-P-RPA-ABB, which is now eight years old.

Coscolluela, who used to be the Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas , said the incident may have encouraged them to fast-track the social integration process of members of the RPA-ABB.

He added that the re-integration of RPA-BB members into the mainstream of society as ordinary citizens with livelihood support, forms part of the government package to conclude the peace agreement.

The government issued special permits for some of the RPA-ABB members to carry firearms for self-protection.*GPB

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