Fiscal's "killer" falls after 2 years in hiding

CEBU, Philippines - Police the other day arrested the gunman of Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Patrick Osorio, two years after the fiscal was shot while driving his vehicle along Maria Gochan Street on January 6, 2009.

Lyndon Horandoy, 28, a native of Maghaway, Talisay City, was arrested at a parlor where he was working as a barber in the mountain barangay Guba, Cebu City.

 He was arrested around 6pm by a team led by city police intelligence chief Romeo Santander.

Horandoy was reportedly watching over his infant child when the police stormed into the parlor. His live-in partner was not at the vicinity at that time.

Horandoy reportedly tried to resist arrest but gave in subsequently after the police showed him the warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Silvestre Maamo Jr. No firearm was found at his hideout.

Santander said Horandoy reportedly admitted shooting Osorio during interrogation. He, however, refused to divulge details of the admission so as not to jeopardize a follow-up operation. “It is a very sensitive case, and we need to be very careful,” Santander said.

“Based on factors na iyang gi-sulti, mi-link gyud ang tanan ug mi-admit siya nga naa gyud siya’y participation,” Santander added.

Horandoy was reportedly cooperative during interrogation and even reportedly identified the mastermind in the shooting. The mastermind reportedly gave him P50,000.

In order to evade capture, Horandoy reportedly fled to Barilli town and later transferred residence to Barangay Guadalupe in Cebu City. When authorities intensified their search, Horandoy went to Ubay, Bohol and later found his way to Barangay Guba where he stayed for one year and eight months until his arrest last Tuesday.

Police said Horandoy’s drinking buddy was instrumental in the suspect’s arrest. The tipster reportedly told the police that Horandoy had confessed of his crime when he got drunk about a month ago.

“Last month nag kita ni sila and na loose talk siya while nag-inom about what happened mao nga siya’y mi-guide namo kagahapon,” Santander said.

Horandoy also reportedly admitted that several of his relatives are also allegedly guns for hire. “Sa iyang mga relatives, gikan gyud mismo sa iyang baba nga mao gyud nang ilang trabaho based in Maghaway, Talisay,” Santander said.

Horandoy is currently detained at the Cebu City Police Office. He is expected to give an extrajudicial confession before the court anytime today.

The other suspect in the case, Alan Senugat, the driver of the motorcycle ridden by Horandoy, was arrested last 2009.

Appreciation

Osorio’s family and relatives yesterday expressed gladness over Horandoy’s arrest.

His former boss, Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane, also congratulated Santander’s group and Cebu City Police Director Melvin Buenafe for the successful operation.

Gubalane is optimistic that the reason behind the shooting would finally be revealed now that the gunman has been arrested. The prosecutor’s death remains a mystery to his family, friends and former colleagues.

Osorio passed away due to cardiac arrest a day after he was shot. A bullet that got stuck in a major blood vessel also caused too much bleeding.

Horandoy and Senogat’s identities were revealed three months after the shooting. They were reportedly identified by a seaman who was standing at the Park ‘N Go Bakeshop near the place where Osorio was ambushed.

It was not clear, however, how the witness identified Horandoy and Senogat positively when the gunmen were wearing full-faced helmet at that time. — /JMO (FREEMAN)