The family of slain radio commentator Roger Mariano has urged concerned authorities in the province to speed up the trial of the murder case after several months had passed since the assassination and the subsequent appearance of an eyewitness pointing to police officer as the suspect.

Mariano was slain on July 31, 2004 as he was on his way home to Dingras, Ilocos Norte from a local radio station where he just finished his daily program.

An eyewitness later identified one of the alleged perpetrators who turned out to be Apolonio Medrano, a native of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte and a police officer based in the Cordillera.

Lala Mariano, daughter of the murdered broadcaster of local radio station DZJC-Aksyon Radyo, also appealed to the members of the local tri-media and the officers of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) to help in pressuring concerned officials to speed up the trial and to bring justice to her father’s murder.

Mariano’s daughter also denied rumors that their family had been paid with a “generous amount” to keep silent and not to further follow up the murder case.

Presently, Medrano lawyer, Attorney Macario Arquillo, had filed a motion to quash the case filed against his client explaining that there is no hard evidence pointing to his client as the killer of the late radioman.

However the eyewitness said in his affidavit that he saw Medrano among the group that killed Mariano.

The eyewitness also said that he was overtaken by Mariano along the national highway leading to Dingras, Ilocos Norte which made him witness the whole incident.

The eyewitness further stated in his affidavit that he was able to identify Medrano when the group fled using a van as their getaway vehicle.

Medrano was arrested in November 2004 as a result of the eyewitness’ affidavit.

Leilanie G. Adriano