Police arrest murder suspect in Laguna

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna ,Philippines  – Police have finally arrested a man who was allegedly responsible for the murder of four persons in separate incidents in Calamba City last year.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna provincial director, said justice have been brought to the four victims following the arrest of Emelito de Luna, alias Aba, tagged as number one public enemy in Calamba City.

Cruz said De Luna's arrest was covered by four arrest warrants issued by Judge Wilhermina Jorge-Wagan of Regional Trial Court Branch 34. Superintendent Joel Pernito, chief of the Cardinal Village in Barangay Sampiruhan, Calamba City arrested De Luna at around 10 a.m. last week. No bail was recommended by the court against the suspect.

Cruz said De Luna has a pending warrant of arrest for the murder of a certain Wendel Palmones in Calamba City last year. De Luna was positively identified by several witnesses as the gunman of a certain Nestor Mirasol Jr., inspector of a brewery . Mirasol was on his way home when he was shot by armed men riding in tandem along the Industrial Site terminal in Barangay Canlubang, Calamba City on July 8, 2010 at around 5 p.m.

Cruz said the suspect was also implicated in the murder of Roselio Manalo in Barangay Sampiruhan, Calamba City on Aug. 12, 2010. He said De Luna's last victim was Vic Padtrana, president of the Junkers Southern Tagalog Business Association Inc. The victim was shot dead in his residence in Barangay Parian, Calamba City last Nov. 11, 2010 at around 6:50 p.m. De Luna resportedly escaped onboard a motorcycle.

Cruz believes De Luna is a member of a gun-for-hire syndicate operating in Laguna province.