Police nab security guard in Negros, suspect in killing of three arrested

CEBU, Philippines - The security guard who gunned down three persons and carted away P80,000  from a bank in  Daanbantayan, Cebu on New Year’s eve was arrested by authorities in Sagay City, Negros Occidental yesterday.

Berly Tudtud, 28, of Barangay Buntod, Bogo City, Cebu was caught in Sitio Gamboa, Barangay Tadlong, Sagay City in  a joint operation by the Provincial Intelligence Branch of the Cebu Provincial Police Office led by Senior Insp. Wilson Abot and the Sagay Police Station led by Insp. Bose, midday yesterday.

It took five hours for the police to arrest Tudtud from the time they began chasing him in Sagay City.

Police recovered a hand grenade from Tudtud but failed to find in his possession the 12-gauge shotgun he allegedly used in killing fellow security guard Dean Deserto, 26, of Barangay Dakit, Bogo; Deserto’s live-in partner Cecilia Torre, 30, also of Dakit; and Jenelyn Megabon, 26, of Medellin town.

Abot told The FREEMAN in a telephone interview that they tracked Tudtud based on his personal file from the Ricarte Security Agency where he worked.

Though he grew up in Bogo, Tudtud is a native of Sagay City.

“Among gi-adto sa (We looked for him in) Bantayan, Bogo, Cebu City, hasta sa (including) Silay City,” Abot said, adding that they even informed barangay officials in Silay and  Sagay cities to give them a call if they spot Tudtud.

With his men posted in Silay, Abot said a local official informed them that an armed Tudtud was seen in Hacienda Concepcion, Sagay City. The police hatched a 7 a.m. operation to catch Tudtud.

“Wala namo kuhai ug tawo sa (I did not remove any of my men in) Silay, basin lang muadto ngadto, una mi (because he might proceed there, before we) ni-proceed(ed) sa (to) Hacienda Concepcion,” Abot said.

Tudtud, however, noticed the presence of the police, prompting him to escape that resulted in a chase.

“Didto pa labang og sapa unya dagan na pud. Pwerte namong gukod (He crossed a river then fled on foot.  We ran after him),” Abot said.

Abot said Tudtud possibly hid the shotgun somewhere in Sagay. However, they are still subjecting him to a tactical interrogation.

He further said that none of Tudtud’s relatives knew why he suddenly appeared in Negros Occidental.

Tudtud used his service shotgun in killing Deserto, Torre, Megabon, inside Fair Bank in Barangay Pajo, Bogo before midnight Tuesday, the suspect’s last day of work.

Deserto was on duty that time and Torre likely wanted to spend New Year with him as the police found food at the crime scene.  Megabon, the bank’s accounting clerk, was doing overtime work when killed.

The police are eyeing grudge as primary motive for the crime and robbery as second motive as Tudtud took all the cash in the bank’s steel cabinet.

Tudtud and Deserto were both under the Ricarte Security Agency located in the City fo Naga, Cebu.

Robbery with multiple homicide charges is set to be filed today against Tudtud.

Meanwhile, Marcelo Ricarte, owner of the security agency that employed the suspect, said Tudtud completed the required documents and is a licensed security guard.

This, after the Firearms Explosives Security Services Agency and Guards Supervisory Section (FESSAGS) called the agency to check Tudtud’s credentials.

“Bag-o lang na na-release iyang license so ang naa namo ang copy ana,” Ricarte said in a phone interview.

He said the agency would take care of the burial expenses and other financial needs.

Ricarte said Deserto was laid to rest Saturday while Megabon was buried yesterday in their public cemetery.

“Sakit huna-hunaon ug until now dili pa nako madawat ang nahitabo (It pains me to think about what happened, which until now I could not accept),” Ricarte said.—/RHM (FREEMAN)