Murder suspect in lawyer’s ambush nabbed

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested a suspect in the 2020 murder of Cebu lawyer Joey Luis Wee.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page on Thursday, June 5, 2025, the NBI Central Office in Metro Manila said Manuelito Melia Camacho was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) following a record check by airport police.

“In line with the thrust of NBI Director Judge Jaime B. Santiago to ensure not only the thorough investigation of cases but also their speedy resolution, the NBI-International Airport Investigation Division (NBI-IAID) arrested Manuelito Melia Camacho aka “Monching”, accused in the murder of Cebu lawyer Joey Luis Wee in 2020,” the NBI said.

According to the NBI, the Police Intelligence and Investigation Division - Airport Police (PIID) had earlier arrested Jay-R Santos Reyes for theft, unjust vexation, resistance and disobedience to a person in authority.

While the NBI did not elaborate on these cases that are now pending before Pasay City MTC Branch 166, the agency narrated that during Reyes’ detention at the PIID office, a fight broke out between him and his partner, where it was eventually revealed that Reyes’ real name was Manuelito Melia Camacho, also known as “Monching.”

The PIID chief then requested a record check on the said name and learned that Camacho had a warrant of arrest for murder issued by RTC Branch 10 in Cebu City.

“This information was communicated with the agent-in-charge of the Cebu District Office (Cebdo) who confirmed to the PIID the positive identification of Jay-R Reyes also known as Manuelito Melia Camacho,” the NBI said.

Following the PIID’s discovery, NBI-IAID agents then served the warrant of arrest against Camacho at the Airport Police office in Pasay City.

During his arrest, Camacho reportedly admitted that he was the person charged in the Wee murder case.

While the NBI confirmed Camacho’s status as a charged individual with an existing arrest warrant for murder, it did not detail his specific role in the crime itself.

Joey Luis Wee, 51, was shot by two gunmen on November 23, 2020, in broad daylight.

The shooting occurred around 1:30 p.m. as he walked from his car to go to his office in Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago commended the NBI-IAID agents for the successful arrest and praised the NBI-Cebdo and the PIID for their contributions.

Santiago also noted the importance of coordination between NBI offices and other law enforcement agencies. / CDF