Suspect in Quezon mayor's slay arrested

Camp Gen. Nakar, Lu­ce­na City , Philippines   – One of the suspects in the killing of former Candelaria Mayor David Emralino was nabbed during a manhunt operation conducted by members of Task Group ‘Emralino’ at Barangay Sampaga, Batangas City on Sunday morning.

Police Senior Superintendent Elmo Francis Sarona, Quezon police director identified one of the suspects as Adorico Ebora, 38, married and resident of Barangay Libato, San Juan Batangas.

Sarona said that at about 7 a.m. Sunday at the said place, Ebora was nabbed by joint elements of Quezon police operatives together with members of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Records of Ebora showed that he has a string of criminal cases for murder and frustrated murder, the latest case of which was committed on June 23, 2006 in Barangay Buhay na Sapa, San Juan Juan Batangas.

Other records also showed that he has been released from jail about two months ago on the basis of a mysterious disinterest on the part of the complainant to pursue the case.

Sarona added that the operation was the result of almost one week of relentless and uninterrupted surveillance by Quezon police operatives under Superintendent Gilbert Sauro and Joriz Cantora, 415th Provincial Police Mobile Group against the suspect who was positively identified by two witnesses who personally saw the killing of Emralino on July 26 in front of the San Pedro Bautista Parish in Poblacion, Candelaria.

The said suspect was charged with murder before the regional trial court here in Lucena City, led by lawyer Gella Putong.

Emralino was speaking with the former Grand Knight of the Knight of Columbus in Candelaria town in front of the church when two suspects opened fire with Armalite rifle and .45 caliber pistol.

Aside from killing Emralino, the suspects also wounded three people including the ex-mayor’s security guards. – Michelle Zoleta, Non Alquitran, Ed Amoroso, Arnell Ozaeta, Cecille Suerte Felipe