Fish port terror falls in Navotas

Police arrested a member of a notorious robbery-holdup gang preying on fish traders and fishermen at the Navotas Fish Port Complex after he was identified by a witness as one of the armed men who robbed and killed a fish boat captain Friday night inside the port compound.

Chief Inspector Sotero Ramos Jr., Northern Police District intelligence unit chief, identified the suspect as Patrick Maynite, 24, of Interior Old Fish Port Complex, Barangay North Bay Boulevard North, Navotas.

Maynite, a member of Sputnik Gang and released from prison last Aug. 13, is one of the suspects in the killing of Bennie Barrameda, 38, a fish boat captain.

Investigation conducted by PO2 Lauro de la Cruz and PO2 Rogelio Libuton showed that Barrameda was walking home from his boat at around 9:20 p.m. when he was waylaid by two men in front of the Araw-Gabi Convenience store inside the complex.

Armed with knives, the two men blocked Barrameda’s path and announced a holdup.

When Barrameda put up a fight, the robbers ganged up on him and took turns stabbing him until he was dead. Before escaping, the suspects took Barrameda’s wallet.

Barremeda’s family immediately coordinated with maritime police but no action was taken on their complaint. The next day, the victim’s kin sought the help of the NPD-District Police Intelligence Unit, Wilfredo Barrameda, 43, brother of the fatality, said.

At around 9:30 a.m. yesterday, through the help of a witness, a pedicab driver, DPIU operatives, led by SPO4 Pancho Labrador, were able to trace Maynite’s whereabouts resulting in the suspect’s arrest.

Maynite was apprehended while still wearing a bloodstained blue T-shirt. Police also seized from him a seven-inch fan knife also tainted with blood.

At his cell, Maynite denied killing Barrameda. He said it was his companion, one Rey Cariaga, alias Pakyaw, who stabbed dead the victim for reasons he was not aware of.

According to SPO4 Tony Tenorio, witnesses pointed to Maynite’s group as the one who also robbed and critically injured one Joemon Talaid, 21, also a fisherman, last week inside the Navotas Fish Port Complex.