"Get Damalerio's killer."

PNP Chief, Director General Hermogenes E. Ebdane issued this marching order to newly installed PNP Regional Director for Western Mindanao, Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Varilla.

The target: Guillermo Wapile, a former policeman of Pagadian City, tagged as principal suspect in the murder of broadcast journalist Edgardo Damalerio in May 2002.

Wapile has since remained at-large and an arrest order had been issued by the court. The suspect was last sighted in the town of Claren, Misamis Occidental.

Ebdane directed Varilla to intensify the manhunt operations for the immediate arrest of Wapile.

In response to the order, Varilla vowed to track down the suspect and bring him before the bar of justice.

Varilla formally assumed command as Regional Director of Police Regional Office-9 from Chief Superintendent Simeon Dizon Jr. who was elevated to the post of PNP Director for Research and Development (DRD).

PRO-9 is stationed in Zamboanga city and has jurisdiction over the provinces of Western Mindanao provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay and Misamis Occiental.

Source:PNP PRESS RELEASE No. 03-0406
with authority from P/SR SUPT LEOPOLDO N. BATAOIL PNP
Public Information Office, Camp Crame, Quezon City