Suspect escapes arresting cops

CEBU, Philippines - The suspect behind the death of a hardware owner in Toledo Cebu has escaped police custody on Friday afternoon by jumping off a police car bound for Toledo City Jail.

Levi James Villanueva, of Barangay Luray, escaped the police by jumping off a moving police car at S. Osmeña Street, Toledo City at 4:20 pm.

Villanueva was tagged responsible for the death of Ma. Belen Santillan, 59, owner of Santillan Enterprises in Barangay Don Andres Soriano, Toledo City who was shot dead last month.

SPO1 Toel Tadque of Toledo Police Station said Villanueva was escorted by his arresting officers PO3 Ceilo Quimat and PO2 Jonathan Buscato of the Provincial Intelligence Branch after they received the suspect’s commitment order from the court.

Tadque said Villanueva jumped off the police car while they were on their way to the City Health Office for the required medical checkup prior to his detention at the city jail.

He said the fugitive who was still wearing handcuffs immediately ran towards the interior portion of the area while being chased by the two policemen. Tadque said one of Villanueva’s relatives in the area aided his escape.

The police said they immediately conducted a hot pursuit operation to arrest the fugitive.

Quimat and Buscato, on the other hand, will be investigated why Villanueva managed to escape them.

Prior to Villanueva’s arrest, he denied involvement in the killing of Santillan who was reportedly carrying pay-to-cash checks for a local bank amounting to more than P100,000.

Investigators initially believed that the robbery and killing of Santillan was an inside job, adding that it is possible that someone from the victim’s store gave information to the perpetrators.   - (THE FREEMAN)