Navotas thrill killer falls

A thrill killer, who shot four men on their way home on board a tricycle early yesterday, yielded to authorities nine hours later in Navotas.

In his report to Northern Police District (NPD) director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil, Navotas police chief Superintendent Genesis Tolejano identified the suspect as Danilo Villanueva alias Danny Toyo, 39, jobless, with no specific address.

Bataoil said Villanueva was arrested in one of his several safehouses by Navotas police at around 12:45 p.m. yesterday.

Bataoil has ordered Tolejano to conduct a continuing manhunt for Villanueva’s colleague, whose identity is still being withheld.

Injured in the shooting were Joel Datubo, 23; Noli Cano, 22; Charlie Banag, 20; and Victor Torres, 18, all of Marcelo street, Sitio Sto. Nino, North Bay Boulevard South (NBBS), Navotas.

The victims were taken to the Tondo Medical Center in Manila for treatment of various gunshot wounds in the body.

Investigation showed the victims were on their way home at around 3 a.m. yesterday on board a tricycle when Villanueva and still unnamed companion blocked their way and ordered them to get out of the vehicle.

The victims said they obliged in fear after seeing the two suspects armed with caliber .45 pistols.

They had no sooner alighted when the suspects started firing. Villanueva allegedly shot Datubo on the nape while his partner shot Cano in the abdomen.

Banag and Torres ran for their lives as Datubo and Cano fell on the road, but the suspects chased after them managing to hit them in the feet sending them sprawling on the ground.

The suspects were later spotted running away bringing with them their weapons.

After nine hours, Villanueva, allegedly a police asset, was arrested.

Bataoil said he has ordered a thorough investigation even as Villanueva was reported to be a suspect in the killing of an aide of Mayor Canuto Oreta last year. The NPD chief has ordered Tolejano to dig into the criminal records of Villanueva.

Charges of multiple counts of frustrated murder are now being readied against Villanueva and his missing companion. – With Pete Laude