Cop's "killer" arrested

CEBU, Philippines - The suspect in the killing of PO1 William Mangubat, a field training police in Talisay City, is now in Cebu after he was arrested by the police of Tangub City in Misamis Oriental together with the Talisay police yesterday morning.

 Arrested during a checkpoint was Noel Simbajon a.k.a Noel Pacana, 29, of sitio Mananga, barangay Tabunok, Talisay City. Judge Gilbert Moises of the Regional Trial Court Branch 18 issued on June 9 a warrant for robbery with homicide.

However, his two alleged cohorts Lito Oros and Jundee Oros, both of barangay Mananga, Talisay City, are still at large.

Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez yesterday lauded Chief Insp. Eddie Recamara and his team. The mayor would confer with the city council for the giving of recognition for the police.

Simbajon, the alleged gunman, was on board a motorcycle-for-hire when arrested. He was heading to barangay Bintana, where he was hiding with relatives Merdiza Campilan and Rhodora Managing.

Recamara said they pursued their manhunt operation against Simbajon right after the incident on March 11.

When the police received reports that Simbajon was heading to Tangub, Recamara immediately sent pictures of the suspect through an e-mail to the Tangub Police Station and coordinated with Senior Inspector Elias Hampac, chief of the Tangub police.

Recamara disclosed that after the incident, Simbajon hid in sitio Iba, barangay Lagtang at the house of Rodel Cunas. On March 15, he boarded a Ceres Bus Liner and headed for Misamis Oriental.

He was then under surveillance in barangay Tangub for two weeks with the help of the Tangub police intelligence before the Talisay police left Wednesday evening to arrest him.

Mangubat, 27, was shot dead while responding to a snatching incident in barangay Tabunok, Talisay City. He chased the suspects and was trying to arrest them when he was shot in the head. Simbajon, in an interview, admitted his involvement in the crime but denied shooting Mangubat.

“Apil ko sa tulis pero wala ko kahibaw kinsay nakapusil kay pagkakita nako nga pulis, nidagan na man ko,” he said. (I was involved in the snatching incident but I ran when I saw the policeman. I don’t know who shot him.)

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador assured Simbajon’s family that the suspect will not be harmed. This is after Analiza Gamboa, 28, live-in partner of the suspect, pleaded for Talisay City Vice Mayor Alan Bucao to assure the safety of Simbajon.

“Amo nang ipasalig kay we want the court to decide on his fate,” Comendador said.

The police consider the case as solved. Simbajon is detained at the Talisay City Jail.

Fernandez said that those who gave vital information that led to Simbajon’s arrest will receive the P100,000-bounty. The amount was approved by the council last March, shortly after they learned that the suspects in Mangubat’s killing had gone into hiding.

The arrest of Simbajon is a warning to all criminals in the city that the elements of the PNP will hunt them wherever they go, warned Fernandez.  (FREEMAN)