Another suspect in the murder of Japanese businessman Taroh Suda in Mandaue City was arrested by the joint teams of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Regions 9 and 7 last Thursday afternoon.
Police arrested Reynaldo Bustaleño, 27, a resident of Magsaysay Street, barangay Miputak, Dipolog City who uses the aliases Brando Ramirez and Kokoy, and is allegedly a member of the Alpha Kappa Rho fraternity.
Bustaleño showed up at the Dipolog City Police Station to clear his name after he reportedly learned that a warrant of arrest for twin robberies in Dumaguete City was out against him.
But the CIDG-9 learned that he is on the list of wanted persons in Cebu for the murder of Taroh Suda prompting them to inform the CIDG-7.
Chief Insp. Fermin Armendares III of CIDG-7 brought a copy of the warrant of arrest issued by RTC Branch 28 Judge Marilyn Lagura-Yap for the murder of Taroh hence for his arrest with no bail recommended.
Supt. Rex Derilo of CIDG-7 said there were witnesses who positively identified Bustaleño as one of the eight suspects in the killing of Taroh last July 18, 2007 in front of the victim’s residence in Genson Compound, Urel Street, barangay Banilad, Mandaue City.
Three other suspects in the killing were already arrested and identified as Aristotle Aves, Jesus Singson, Jr.; Cyron Pineda and Jose Mari “Otik” Temblon who were arrested in separate occasions.
Police are still looking for the taxi driver, who according to then CIDG-7 regional officer Sr. Supt. Jorge Corpus is the “missing link” of the puzzle and two other unidentified individuals believed to be the masterminds of the killing.
Bustaleño reportedly shot Taroh, while Aves finished him off and escaped. They were reportedly paid P10,000 for “carrying out the plot”.
Taroh Suda is the owner and chief cook of Kamekichio Japanese Restaurant located along Quezon Avenue in Mandaue City. Police believe that the killing may have been connected to the life insurance plan of the victim.
The CIDG-7 and the Mandaue City Police Office have been coordinating with the Tokyo Police for information on the murder.
But Bustaleño, when presented to the media, vehemently denied all the allegations against him claiming that he was wrongfully accused of.
He also denied knowing Aves despite claiming they belong to same fraternity. However, he admitted knowing Singson and Ramon Jaime “Boy” Baclohan of D. Jakosalem Street in barangay Zapatera.
According to Bustaleño, he and his other fraternity brothers were frequenting Baclohan’s place for drinking sessions there.
Bustaleño also said he once lived here in Cebu for about a year and left last year, but did not give further details on his activities here.
He admitted, though, that he had been arrested once for illegal possession of firearms but that the case was already dismissed.
Meanwhile, Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador of the Cebu City Police Office said Bustaleño is among the men they suspected to have direct involvement with Aves in drive-by shootings but was not charged for such. — Edwin Ian Melecio/MEEV