Former Aklan mayor convicted over 2004 slay of radio broadcaster

MANILA, Philippines – A former mayor of Lezo town in Aklan province was convicted by a Cebu City court for the killing of a radio broadcaster in 2004.

On August 10, the Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 16 found Alfredo Arcenio guilty of homicide for the death of Herson Hinolan, station manager of dyIN Bombo Radyo in Kalibo, in 2004.

Judge Sylva Aguirre-Paderanga sentenced Arcenio to 14 years’ imprisonment, and ordered the former mayor to pay P237,500 to Hinolan’s family, according to a report of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility.

The case stemmed from the November 2004 killing of Hinolan, when the boradcaster was shot by a masked man while he was at a local carnival. Days after he was killed, a certain Peter Melgar identified Arcenio as the gunman.

Murder charges were filed against Arcenio, but the charges were downgraded to homicide in 2005 due to insufficient evidence to prove that treachery and premeditation was present in the case, key elements needed to sustain a charge of murder.

In 2008, the Supreme Court allowed the transfer of the venue of the case from Aklan to Cebu. 

Arcenio is currently detained at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center. – Rappler.com