TWO men, whom police described as paid mercenaries involved in past murders, were caught by officers from the Pardo Police Station in Sitio Upper Torre, Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City last Tuesday night.
Cebu City Police Office Director Royina Garma identified the suspects as Tommy Pentado Oyanguren and Mamerto Abellana Rollo. Seized from them were a .45 pistol loaded with 10 bullets and a Smith and Wesson with six bullets.
Garma said that the suspects identified themselves as assets of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7, which Supt. Lito Patay denied.
The suspects mentioned former CIDG 7 officers, who were already relieved and assigned outside Central Visayas after their names surfaced in a list of alleged drug protectors in 2016.
The police officers, who are still active, will also be investigated.
“If these two were not apprehended, naa gyo’y mamatay kagabii (someone would have died last night). Kon mag-imbestiga na pod ta didto sa namatay basin naa’y drugs problem o isyu, basin magawas na pod nga ang mipatay ingon na pod nila pulis (And if the slain person turned out to have been involved in illegal drugs, their deaths would again be blamed on the police),” Garma said. “Nalipay ko nga ang mga pulis nato gabii talagang nag-effort gyod (I am glad our police officers exerted their efforts).”
The suspects were reportedly waiting for their target.
“Nakita nila sa cell phone na meron silang papatayin, meron silang tutumbahin (Messages on their cell phone showed they were out to kill someone),” Garma told reporters yesterday.
One of the suspects admitted they had killed three persons, according to Garma. She visited Pardo Police Station after the suspects’ arrest.
Pardo Police Chief Regino Maramag Jr. said that the suspects were hired for P15,000 and were paid half of the amount, with the rest supposed to be given after their target was killed.
A complaint for illegal possession of firearams and ammunition will be filed against the suspects before the city prosecutor’s office.
Reacting to the arrests, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he believes those who are behind the recent killings in Cebu are running after their political enemies.
“Imagine (Tejero Councilman Jessielou) Cadungog accused of being a drug protector, then (City Councilor Dave) Tumulak? Naunsa man na? (How did that happen?) That’s why I’m fighting back. If they’re running after the badlungon (offenders) maybe I’ll just ignore them but they’re now running after our own people,” he said. (KAL, RVC)