Police operatives are now on the look-out for an alleged gun-for-hire who is accused in the non-fatal shooting of block-time broadcaster Fernando “Kapid” Gabio Sr. on March 2 last year as he was washing his car in Democracia St., Jaro, sources said.

Jennel Chiva was charged before the Iloilo Regional Trial Court Branch 38 for attempted murder after investigating prosecutor Anthony Firmalino found probable cause to indict him for the failed attempt to kill Gabio.

RTC Branch 38 presiding judge Victorino Maniba Jr. issued a warrant of arrest against Chiva and set a bail of P120,000 for his temporary liberty.

Gabio said he is seeking the help of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in tracking down Chiva and bring him before the court to answer the criminal charges against him.

Chiva, he said, is now considered a “fugitive” from justice after he failed to surrender to the court after the information was filed against him and a warrant of arrest was issued.

“We have friends in the PNP who are looking for him,” Gabio said.

Gabio anchored a radio block-time program on RMN 774 before he was shot that was critical of the alleged corruption in the Iloilo City Hall project.

According to Gabio, it was Chiva who shot him from about two meters away as he was wiping dry his car that was parked across the street from his house on Democracia Street.

Gabio said he recognized Chiva because the accused stopped about 10 meters from where he fell wounded and removed his helmet to look at his condition.

“Had it not been that I was able to draw my pistol, Chiva would have come back to finish me off,” he said.

Gabio was hit by a cal. 45 bullet in the right thigh that exited in the back of his leg.

Gabio picked Chiva from among pictures shown by police operatives of known criminal elements operating in Iloilo city and province a few days after he was discharged from the hospital.

Gabio also pointed at Rodel Almuete, an escaped convict from the National Bilibid Prisons, as the companion of Chiva in the attack against him.

However, Almuete, who had been apprehended by Iloilo City police operatives on a standing warrant of arrest for his prison escape, was exonerated in the case for lack of probable cause.

Gabio believes the attempt on his life was bankrolled by powerful officials in the Iloilo City Hall with business interests in the city.