Murder suspect arrested in Manila

MANILA, Philippines – After eight years in hiding, a murder and frustrated murder suspect was arrested in Tondo, Manila yesterday by police officers of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

The suspect, Richard Panes, 29, a driver, did not resist arrest when cornered along Pilar street by a police team headed by Chief Inspector Rene de Jesus of the NCRPO’s anti-fraud division.

De Jesus said Panes was arrested on the strength of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Amor Reyes of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 43 for murder and frustrated murder casesf.

Records showed that Panes and several others shot dead Rolando Pinlac, 14, in Tondo, Manila in May 2002.

He is also the prime suspect in the shooting of Niel Tolentino Jr., 15, in the same area on June 26, 2000. Tolentino survived the attack.

According to De Jesus, an informant told him early this month that Panes was hiding somewhere in Tondo. De Jesus directed SPO2 Artemio Santillan Jr. to coordinate with the Manila court and secure copies of the arrest warrant against Panes.

Santillan and his team arrested Panes after several days of surveillance.

­Panes is currently detained at the detention cell of the regional police intelligence and operation unit of the NCRPO.