THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested a suspect in the killing of lawyer Joey Luis Wee, NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin confirmed on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020.
Lavin said Fausto Edgard Peralta was arrested Tuesday evening, Dec. 8, more than two weeks after Wee was shot dead outside his office building in Cebu City on Nov. 23.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the NBI, which is leading the investigation into Wee’s murder, tracked down the suspect in Laguna.
NBI Central Visayas Director Renan Oliva said the suspect is expected to be brought back to Cebu City Thursday, Dec. 10.
He declined to give further details as investigation was still ongoing.
“In due time (we will provide details). I won’t preempt the press conference in Manila. Once he arrives in Cebu, we will release the information,” Oliva said.
Wee, a former lawyer with the Office of the Solicitor General, was shot dead in front of his office building along J. Panis St. in Brgy. Kasambagan, Cebu City at about 1:30 p.m. of Nov. 23.
The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), which has formed a special investigation task group (SITG) to also look into Wee’s killing, welcomed the report on the arrest of a suspect.
Police Col. Wilbert Parilla, CCPO deputy director who also heads SITG Wee, said they will wait for the NBI to release its report so they can compare their suspects.
Parilla earlier said the closed circuit television camera footage in the area showed that four to five men were involved in the attack on Wee.
He said they will pursue their investigation until all of Wee’s assailants are captured.
Lawyer Regal Oliva, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City chapter president, also welcomed the development.
“It pleases the lawyering community to hear that a suspect in relation to the murder of Atty. Joey Wee was accosted. While we would like to also hear the motives of the crime, it is important to accord the suspect with due process, and we need to see to it that justice be served,” she told SunStar Cebu.
She said the IBP is ready to extend “all its efforts and contribute these” to see that justice will be swift and not delayed.
The Wee family earlier asked that the NBI conduct the investigation. / TPM / ANV / AYB / WBS