Police may have established a breakthrough in the prosecution of four suspects in the killing of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Bohol leader Victor Olayvar.

Olayvar, who was aboard a habal-habal, was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen at Caban Bridge in Barangay Cantubod, Danao town on September 7, 2006. The shooting was witnessed by one Joselito Ayag, the habal-habal driver allegedly contracted by the victim.

During the public hearing of the Congressional Committee on Human Rights at JJ's Seafood Village last Friday, the wife of the slain activist leader, Ma. Elena Olayvar, testified that two of the suspects had previously communicated with her husband days before he was shot dead.

According to Ma. Elena, Ayag and one Roldan Torres had been inviting her husband through text messages to go to Danao.

Responding to the testimony, former Bohol Police Provincial Director SSupt. Arturo Evangelista, who attended the congressional hearing, said the information given by Ma. Elena is vital to the prosecution of suspects Marlou and Virgo Betasa, Neil Logronio and Torres.

The four were originally charged at the Provincial Prosecutor's Office for Olayvar's murder on October 4, 2006.

However, the complaint was dismissed by Provincial Prosecutor Eric Ucat after finding "no probable cause" to indict them while hinting that the Betasa brothers, Logronio and Torres were just "fall guys".

GRUDGE MOTIVE

Evangelista explained that there could only be one motive in the killing of Olayvar, who was also a leader-organizer of Humabol (Hugpong sa mga Mag-uumang Bol-anon).

He said that a brother of the Betasas, named Joseph, was executed by members of the New People's Army (NPA) due to his notorious activities contrary to revolutionary laws.

The Betasa brothers later alleged that their brother's death was carried out by the NPA after recommendation of Humabol.

The brothers allegedly vowed to avenge the killing of their brother and even openly declared in public their personal grudge to the NPA and Humabol members.

Evangelista disclosed that Torres is related to the Betasas. Messages to Olayvar's cellular phone that were found out after his death revealed that Torres called him up asking when he will go to Danao.

He said that police investigation "show circumstances that Torres and Ayag were used by the Betasas to carry out their plan to kill Olayvar."

Before Olayvar was slain, police investigation likewise discovered text messages found in the cellular phone of Olayvar that came from Ayag. This, despite the latter's denial that he knew Olayvar before the shooting incident.

Ayag initially claimed he was contracted by Olayvar as habal-habal going to San Miguel and Danao towns on the day before the activist leader was killed.

Ayag, who was held in the custody of the Bohol PNP after the incident, had also positively identified to police investigators the Betasa brothers as the ones who shot Olayvar.

MILITARY TARGET

Evangelista had ruled out the theory that Olayvar was among military targets who have been allegedly threatened by the Army's 302nd Brigade.

Olayvar's killing happened five days after holding a peace forum with Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak, provincial officials led by Gov. Erico Aumentado and officer of the Bohol PNP and the Army units assigned here about political killings.

Evangelista explained that during the dialogue with the governor and Bishop Tumulak, the police and military had even committed to protect Olayvar and five other leaders of militant groups here who claimed to have threats.

Olayvar had been the chairperson of Bayan-Bohol and vice chairman of Bayan-Central Visayas since 2003.

He served as secretary-general of HUMABOL from 1997 to 2000, and the group's chairperson from 2000 to 2003.