Suspect in slay try on R-II Builders exec nabbed

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recently arrested a suspect in the slay attempt on the president of construction firm R-II Builders Inc.  and his security chief a year ago in Quezon City.

NBI Director Nestor Mantaring said they captured 38-year-old laborer Ariel Masiglat, a resident of Calauagan, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija in a follow-up operation conducted by the Special Action Unit (SAU).

Masiglat was tagged as one of the two gunmen who attempted to kill Engineer Leopoldo Sanchez and security chief Gerry Gafud.

“Sanchez reportedly retired from the company soon after the incident. It appeared that the motive for the attack was vendetta. About two or three employees, who were sacked, reportedly held a grudge against him,” NBI-SAU Head Agent Angelito Magno said.

Magno added that “there were actually two gunmen, but reports said that the other suspect has already died of illness. We would also have to determine if there are other people involved.”

One of the dismissed employees reportedly died four years ago.

The SAU, in coordination with the NBI-Cabanatuan District Office, conducted surveillance and follow-up operations after one of the dismissed employees was reportedly spotted at Purok II, Kalikid Norte, Cabanatuan City.

The NBI applied for a search warrant from Executive Judge Rodrigo Caspillo, of Branch 34 of the Cabanatuan City Regional Trial Court. The lawmen recovered a hand grenade, a .45 caliber pistol and a .38 caliber revolver from Masiglat, who was identified from a police line-up.

Charges of two counts of frustrated murder were filed against Masiglat before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office, which recommended that bail be set at P200,000.

He is currently detained at the NBI jail.