Albayalde orders Bicol PNP to prioritize Llana’s murder

irector General Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), directed yesterday the top police officials of Bicol region to make the solution on the assassination of radioman Joey Llana a top priority.

Part of it, according to Albayalde, is an instruction to Bicol regional director (RD), Chief Superintendent Arnel Escobal, to give the family of Llana a regular update on the investigation of the case.

“Let there be no stone unturned as we seek justice for the victim and his family,” said Albayalde.

The 41-year-old hard-hitting radio commentator at DWZR-AM was gunned down inside his sports utility vehicle (SUV) by assailants on board an Isuzu Wizard midsized SUV at 4:45 a.m. Friday.

“I have directed General Escobal to coordinate closely with the Presidential Task Force on Media Security in order to help quickly solve the case,” said Albayalde.

There were no illegal drugs found in the black SUV driven by Llana when he was gunned down last Friday, the chief of police of Daraga said.

It will be recalled that the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) team found eight sachets containing a white crystalline substance inside a blue sling bag allegedly beside Llana’s body.

Superintendent Benito Dipad Jr. said the results of the examination done by Chief Inspector Idian Pabustan Jr., forensic chemist at the Regional Crime Laboratory Office 5 (RCLO5), showed that the substance was not “shabu” or any illegal drug.

Moreover, Dipad said that, based on the dactyloscopy report by fingerprint examiner SPO2 Rogelio Laneza Jr., it was not Llana’s fingerprints on the blue sling bag or the disposable lighter found inside it.

As per the examination by Chief Insp. Idian Pabustan Jr., the victim was also tested negative in the paraffin examination, which means that he did not fire a gun, said Dipad.

Llana’s family suspects the blue sling bag was “planted” at the crime scene.