Suspect in lotto winner’s slay arrested for another killing

ANTIPOLO CITY — He had evaded arrest for six months.

But Roberto Campos, 29, made a big mistake of fatally shooting a woman he robbed Monday, which eventually led to his arrest and being identified as one of the alleged killers of a P19.6-million lotto winner last October.

Campos was at the city prosecutor’s office in connection with the homicide complaint filed against him for the death of 29-year-old Emilisa Empon, when Jennifer Gallado, a cousin of slain lotto winner Arturo Eupena, 58, spotted him.

Gallado rushed to the office of prosecutor Heneroso Barot who is handling the Eupena case. Campos, one of 11 suspects initiallly charged for the Oct. 11 murder of Eupena, was thus denied bail.

Campos was said to be the best friend of a certain Andy, a friend of Eupena’s son, Renan, 31.

Renan was reportedly the one who revealed to Andy and his friends that his parents won P19.6 million in the lotto draw last October.

Police said the 11 suspects were among Eupena’s visitors when he celebrated his 58th birthday at his newly renovated house at Nazarin Ville Subdivision in Barangay San Roque this city. It was Renan who invited the suspects to the affair.

Two days later, Eupena was held up but he fought back with his newly bought caliber .45 automatic pistol. However, he was shot in the process and died on the spot.

The robbers escaped with P92,000 cash and Eupena’s newly purchased Grandia van.

Police arrested 10 suspects during intensified follow-up operations. However, only three of those arrested remain behind bars as Barot ordered the release of the seven suspects for lack of probable cause.

Campos and Andy remained at large, until last Monday when Campos barged into Empon’s house in Barangay Mambugan. Empon and her boyfriend were then having supper.

When she noticed somebody in the living room, Empon stood up to check and caught Campos about to flee with her cellular phone and other valuables.

Empon gave chase, but Campos shot her with a caliber .38 revolver, fatally hitting her in the chest. Campos managed to escape but was later arrested in his house in Pasig City.