Malabon murder suspect arrested

Police arrested one of the eight suspects in the alleged murder of a painter after he passed by the victim’s wake Saturday afternoon in Malabon City.

Superintendent Pedro Ramos, Malabon police chief, identified the suspect as Hilario Paclian, 20, of 42 Guyabano street, Barangay Potrero, Malabon.

Investigation showed that at around 10 p.m. last Wednesday, a melee occurred along Dulong Hernandez street in Barangay Catmon wherein Shernan Hirabana, 19, was reportedly mauled and stabbed to death by at least eight knife-wielding men.

A witness, identified only as Nico, 14, also of Hernandez street, Barangay Catmon, was able to identify one of Hirabana’s alleged killers who immediately fled after the incident.

On Saturday at about 1:20 p.m., while attending Hirabana’s wake, Nico saw Paclian, who reportedly passed by the place unintentionally, police investigator PO2 Jorge de la Cruz said.

Nico called on the victim’s kin who, with the help of bystanders, chased and cornered the suspect and turned him over to responding policemen.

A police manhunt is still going on for the remaining suspects.

Meanwhile, police also arrested Saturday two suspects, identified as Elmer Samano, 42, and Reynaldo Bobis, 35, for the near fatal stabbing of barangay tanod Ramil Opisyal of Barangay Acacia also in Malabon City.

The suspects alleged that they were having a drinking spree with several of their friends at around 9 p.m. when Opisyal, allegedly armed with a handgun, tried to shoot Samano for no apparent reason but his gun malfunctioned.

The suspects, police said, claimed to have tried to disarm Opisyal but he fought back prompting one of their companions to stab him in the stomach. Opisyal is now confined at the Manila Central University (MCU) Hospital.

Charges were being readied yesterday against the suspects. –Pete Laude