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Friday, December 14, 2007
Another Akrho member linked to ‘drive-by shootings’ nabbed
By Jovy S. Taghoy
CEBU CITY -- Another fraternity member linked to the killings of two Japanese nationals in Mandaue City and the drive-by shootings in Cebu City was arrested by a joint police team Thursday.
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Jose Mari Temblon, alias Otik, 21, was arrested at 7 a.m. in his house in Barangay Ibabao by a team from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 and the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO). They presented a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Geraldine Faith Econg.
"Otik is involved in the killing of Taru Suda, also in the killing of (Hiroshi) Kusaka. He is involved in the planning and executions," CIDG 7 Officer Jose Jorge Corpuz told reporters in a press conference.
Suda, 36, was shot dead in front of his rented house in Barangay Banilad, Mandaue City last July. Kusaka was killed last month when the van he was riding stopped for a red light at the corner of G. Ouano and Plaridel Streets, Barangay Cambaro.
3 fratmen
Temblon is the third fraternity man captured by the police whose names were tagged in several major killings in Metro Cebu. He is affiliated with the Alpha Kappa Rho (Akrho).
Last December 3, a 14-man team from the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) arrested one of Cebu City's most wanted men, Aristotle Aves, 26, and Jesus Singson Jr., 27, on a vessel that had yet to leave Pier 8 in Mandaue City.
Temblon, however, was not presented to the media Thursday as he was still undergoing a tactical interrogation, Corpuz said.
The PNP 7 Crime Laboratory reported last Dec. 10 that the ballistic and cross-matching tests on a .45 Colt pistol "surrendered" by one of the suspects yielded positive results. It may have been used in nine major crimes in the cities of Mandaue and Cebu.
The firearm, according to the information gathered by investigators, was believed to have been used by Aves in carrying out the crimes.
Same gun
Evidence such as the empty shells and slugs found in nine crime scenes from July to November were cross-matched with the .45 pistol.
The positive results indicate that the same gun was used in the nine shootings, three in Mandaue City and six in Cebu City.
In Mandaue City, these are the killings of Bienvenido Quijano, a flower shop worker, last July 17, Suda last July 18 and Eric Salubre last July 23.
In Cebu City, these were the shootings of Angelito Reyes, Eugenio Presbetiro, Benjamin Dilao and Jonathan Tabada last Sept. 21 that left Presbetiro dead; Armand Panit last Sept. 29, who died; the drive-by shootings that killed Laurence Morados, Lord Stephen Vasquez and William John Aznar and injured Jeffrey Romano, Mhako Repello Buencon-sejo, Rendon Pellerin and Rey Gonzales; and a shooting in a gasoline station on M.J. Cuenco Ave. where police recovered two empty shells.
Corpuz said that the result of the ballistic tests confirmed the information they received that Aves' group was not only involved in fraternity-related incidents, but in gun-for-hire activities as well.
The CIDG 7, MCPO and Cebu City Police Office are working together to hunt down at least five other members of Aves' group who are involved in the killings.
'Weapon'
Last Sunday, the composite police team also recovered a black Honda motorcycle allegedly used by Aves for his getaways.
The police team is verifying reports that Temblon drove the motorcycle.
Corpuz said the team has a "secret weapon" that is helping them and was instrumental in the arrest of Temblon.
Information from this "secret weapon" has helped the investigators get several search warrants, including the ones served on Temblon and Ramon Baclohan, 54, in Sitio Sab-a, Barangay Zapatera, Cebu City.
Last Monday's raid on Baclohan ended in the death of PO1 Noriel Luage, one of the operatives who served the warrant. Baclohan also died.
During the raid on Temblon's house Thursday, the police confiscated a .45 pistol with one magazine loaded with six rounds of ammunition, one black jacket, a photo album that police said has pictures of the group, three sachets of what appeared to be shabu and sniffing paraphernalia. (Sun.Star Cebu)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (December 14, 2007 issue)
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