Malabon pol tied to owner of gun used in trader's murder

MANILA, Philippines - The owner of a handgun used in the killing of a businessman three months ago in Malabon City is currently working as a personal aide to a local politician, police sources said yesterday.

An official told The STAR Marlon Marquina, the registered owner of a .45 caliber Norinco pistol used in the murder of Michael Buquid on July 20, is still “working at the city hall but not as a regular employee but as a personal assistant of a local politician.”

Buquid, owner of drug firm 20th Pharma Trade in Mandaluyong City, was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding gunmen at around 1 p.m. in front of a restaurant in Malabon City.

Three months after Buquid’s killing, his widow, Severa Astorga Buquid, showed up at the Northern Police District headquarters Wednesday to ask for an update on the investigation. NPD officials refused to divulge any developments in the case, claiming that the National Bureau of Investigation is now handling it.

Local police officials, however, maintain that Buquid’s killing is connected to the alleged P16.5-million scam at the city hall, wherein Marquina is one of the seven accused.

Marquina, Malabon City administrator Benjamin Villacorta, Rafael Jose, Anabelle Caparas, Evangeline Arenga, Sebastiana Dadia, and Consolita Tutanes were charged with estafa by businesswoman Mayrna Ojeda Tan for allegedly conspiring to defraud her of P16.5 million for a non-existent joint venture project to supply medical equipment to the Malabon City Hall.

Villacorta denied involvement of any local government official in the case. He also said Marquina, a former staff of a city councilor, is no longer working at the city hall.