|
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Almendras slay suspect squeals
By Ben O. Tesiorna
* Mayor Duterte says he already knows the other gunman as well as the one who paid suspects to kill Arthur Almendras
* Suspect squealed after being told the mayor will return for him at dawn if he refuses to give any information to the police
THE suspect in the murder of political scion Arthur Almendras has admitted to the crime and named the conspirators and mastermind during a confrontation with Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Duterte made the disclosure during Wednesday's Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police press corps forum at the headquarters of the Task Force Davao in Ecoland.
The mayor said he personally met and talked with suspect Efren Atol Tuesday evening at his detention cell.
"Sabi ko sa kanya magsabi ka ng totoo or else babalikan kita dito mamayang madaling araw at kukunin kita (I told him to tell the truth or else I will return for him by dawn and get him)," Duterte said.
The mayor said they now have the names of Atol's conspirators but said it would be best not to divulge it yet since the police are still conducting investigation and follow-up operation.
"Alam ko na kung sino ang nag-utos. Pero ayaw ko makialam. Pulis na ang bahala (I already know who ordered the crime but I don't want to get involved. I am leaving the police to solve it)," Duterte said.
Atol earlier dared the Almendras' family to prove his guilt after the police arrested him.
"Sa korte na lang mi magkita, kung mapamatud-an nga ako, sugot ko mapriso (I will face them in court and if they can prove that I am guilty, I am willing to be jailed)," Atol, a resident of Sitio Bitaog, Barangay Zone 2, in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur said in a radio interview Tuesday.
Atol claimed innocence saying he was in his farm at the time he was supposed to have killed Almendras.
Police, however, said Atol was arrested while washing himself at a river at Sitio Luay, Barangay Zone 2 at around 5 p.m.
Chief Inspector Danilo Obogan, Santa Cruz Municipal Police Office chief, said they even recovered a bloodied jacket from Atol although they failed to find the .9mm pistol used in shooting the victim.
Nilo Tacumba, Almendras' civilian bodyguard who was with the victim during the incident, also positively identified him.
Obogan said the description given by Tacumba before Atol's arrest also fit Atol's features.
Among others, Obogan said, Tacumba described one of the gunmen as having a scar on his arm and an impaired eye.
Atol is confirmed to have a warrant of arrest issued by a General Santos City court for murder.
Obogan considers the case solved with Atol's arrest and brushes off Atol's declarations of innocence.
"Basta mga professional tirador maro gyud na, as of now, wala pa mi'y makuha nga impormasyon sa iyaha (That's typical of professional killers; they're so wily, you can hardly get any information from them)," Obogan said.
Arthur recently sued his younger half-brother Alexis, the former City Councilor, for arson, accusing him of setting fire on the house in his farmland.
Alexis, however, has denied any hand in his half-brother's death and the police would rather keep quiet about such speculations.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (March 24, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
