WHEN operatives of the City Intelligence Unit of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) arrested John Bryan Belamia Fernandez during a buy-bust at the fish port in Barangay Suba Saturday night, May 27, 2023, they had no idea they also had a hired gun in their hands.
The 35-year-old resident of Sitio Lawis, Barangay Pasil confessed that he had killed three persons on different occasions in exchange for payment.
CCPO Director Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog said Fernandez admitted to fatally shooting Arnold Manluloyo Tahir, alias Kirat, in Sitio Bagong Silang Whiteroad, Barangay Inayawan last March 19 after the victim reportedly misappropriated the money of Fernandez’s boss.
Fernandez also shot dead Anderson Talaba, alias Kidlat, in Sitio Abellana, Barangay Suba last April 3 because the victim reportedly failed to remit proceeds from illegal drug transactions.
His latest victim was Theresa Romeron Zuniega, alias Isat, whom he shot in front of the cemetery in Barangay Carreta last May 15 after Zuniega reportedly misappropriated money.
Fernandez said each kill was worth P50,000.
The suspect said he was scheduled to take out two siblings who also owed his boss some money but he had a hard time tracking them since they kept changing addresses in Talisay City.
Dalogdog said they now consider the three cases solved and closed.
The police official said they had placed the suspect under surveillance for two weeks before launching last Saturday’s operation.
Fernandez allegedly yielded 55 grams of shabu with a standard drug price of P374,000, and a loaded .45 pistol.
“Actually, Fernandez can dispose of 100 to 500 grams of shabu a week. We also found out that he works for a known drug lord who is imprisoned in the National Bilibid Prison,” Dalogdog said in Cebuano.
Meanwhile, Fernandez told Superbalita Cebu that he was not coerced into confessing about the three murders.
He said he just wanted to turn over a new leaf so he could give his two small children a brighter future. (BBT, PJB)