Suspect in killing of police officer arrested

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, Philippines  – A village head’s cousin tagged as the prime suspect in the killing of a female police officer and the wounding of her policeman companion during a P2.2 million robbery in Laguna, last April, was captured inside his safehouse in Calamba City, police said yesterday.

Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome, Calabarzon police director, said the suspect, Marlon Malacaman, 30, a cousin of barangay chairman Romy Nido, was arrested by Calamba police with the arrest warrant issued by Judge Alberto Santiago and Judge Alberto Serrano of the Regional Trial Court Branch 34 and 92, Calamba City, in Barangay Paciano, at around 11 p.m. the other day.

Aside from being number three listed in the top 10 most wanted persons, Malacaman’s group was tagged in the killing of gas station supervisor Frederick Valencia on March 9, 2009, Bartolome said.

He said Malacaman and two still unidentified companions were charged for robbery with homicide and frustrated homicide for fatally shooting Inspector Ludivina Guinauli and wounding PO3 Michael Barnuevo.

Guinauli, a disbursing officer of Police Regional Office 4B had just withdrawn P2.2 million from a bank in Barangay Parian, Calamba City on April 22 when she and Barnuevo were shot.