The family of slain Negrense broadcaster Herson Hinolan yesterday raised the possibility that a witness against former Lezo town mayor Alfredo Arcenio in Aklan, may have been paid to recant his sworn statements.

Hinolan’s sister, Carlyn, said they are saddened and worried about the recantation of witness Peter Melgar, which may affect the prosecution of Arcenio.

Arcenio, a retired Army soldier, who was accused for the murder of Hinolan, surrendered Wednesday to Judge Luna Paman. He also filed a petition in court to be granted bail for his temporary release from jail.

Arcenio may have surrendered but the eyewitness retracted his statements, Carlyn, said in an interview over DYHB.

Witnesses had tagged Arcenio as the lone gunman who repeatedly shot Hinolan outside a carnival in the capital town of Kalibo on Nov. 13, 2004.

Hinolan, a former defense and police reporter of DyWB in Negros before he became a manager of DyIN Bombo Radyo in Kalibo, died from multiple gunshot wounds two days later.

Arcenio has repeatedly denied killing Hinolan.

Despite the P100,000 reward being offered for his arrest, Arcenio eluded captivity, until he surfaced and surrendered on March 5.

The Department of Justice has ordered an investigation on why Melgar left the Witness Protection Program, and recanted his statement against Arcenio.*GPB

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