4 nabbed for QCPD exec’s slay

MANILA, Philippines - Four men were arrested Wednesday in connection with the ambush on a Quezon City Police District (QCPD) official last Monday.

Ten alleged hired killers – including the four who were arrested – agreed to stage the ambush on Chief Inspector Roderick Medrano for free, Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, head of the QCPD-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, told The STAR. He did not elaborate.

Authorities still refused to divulge the motives behind the ambush, but sources said it might have something to do with Medrano’s dealings as a police officer. 

Medrano, who was chief of operations of QCPD Station 4, was attacked as he was driving for his wife and two sons at the corner of Zabarte Road and San Diego Drive in Barangay Kaligayahan Monday morning.

Clemente Bersoza, Larry Consolacion, Joean Marco and Rodener Necesito were arrested based on the tip provided by Christian Geronimo, whose motorcycle they borrowed, said QCPD director Chief Superintendent Richard Albano.

QCPD deputy director for operations Senior Superintendent Procopio Lipana said Geronimo lent his motorcycle to Bersoza, unaware that it was going to be used in the killing. 

Albano said the suspects all worked at the Commonwealth Market, either as inspectors or collectors. He said witnesses tagged the arrested suspects as the ones they saw at the scene of the killing. 

Lipana said follow-up operations were still ongoing to arrest five to six more suspects. 

The arrested suspects are facing charges for murder, attempted murder and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. 

Marcelo said they were looking into the possible involvement of the suspects in past killings in the city: Inspector Rodelio Dionco; the double murder of columnists Bonifacio Loreto Jr. and Richard Kho; village watchman Roberto Marano and other killings and violent attacks in the vicinity of Commonwealth Market.