Suspect in cop's killing falls

MANILA, Philippines - Operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch arrested Sunday evening a man allegedly linked to the killing of PO1 William Mangubat in Bulacao, Cebu City.

Alfredo Rama, 42, was arrested inside his house at Villa Bulsita. Seized from him were a loaded .45 caliber pistol and illegal drugs with an estimated street value of P35,000.

The firearm was sent to the Firearms Explosives Security Service Agency and Guards Supervisory for ballistic tests while the alleged illegal drugs were submitted in the PNP Crime Laboratory for analysis.

In an interview, Rama claimed the firearm was pawned to him for only P2,500 by a certain Noel Pacaña dawn of February 12.

He described Pacaña as slim, sports long hair, and his body tattooed. He said Pacaña came back the next day and asked him for an additional P1,500 and he would consider the firearm sold.

"Wala koy kalibutan nga mao diay na armasa ang gigamit pagpusil," he said while denying the allegations that he owned the shabu and the firearm.

In a phone interview, police officer 3 Reynaldo Solante of PIB said the firearm was found inside a knapsack together with 7 other small plastic packs containing alleged illegal drugs while a larger pack was found in a bunkhouse few meters away from Rama's residence.

Solante said Jerome Briones, Rama's cohort, eluded arrest.

He said Briones was the real owner of the illegal drugs but they arrested Rama after they were informed that he was allegedly one of the suspects in the killing of Mangubat.

Mangubat, 27, a field training policeman was shot dead while responding to a snatching incident in barangay Tabunok, Talisay City in the afternoon of Feb. 11.

Mangubat, a resident of barangay Pardo, was deployed in Mananga II area where he saw a snatching incident but he was shot by the suspect in the head as he tried to chase them.

Rama will be charged with possession of illegal drugs and illegal possession of firearms.

He is now detained in the Cebu Provincial Police Office stockade.