Police arrest gas depot official, 2 'hired killers' in Zambo

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - An official of a gas depot, who has been tagged as the mastermind in the murder of a subordinate, and two alleged gun for hire members were arrested over the weekend by the police forces, according to official.

Police Superintendent Diomarie Albarico, commander of the Police Station 11, identified the suspected mastermind as Ruben Ramos Clemente, assigned at the Petron Depot based in this city as auditor of the finance department, while the suspected hired killers are  Joevert delos Reyes and Guillermo Sasabo.

Albarico said Delos Reyes acted as the driver of the motorcycle while Sasabo was the alleged triggerman. The police recovered from the possession of Sasabo a .45 caliber pistol with five live ammunition which arresting team from the criminal investigation section believed used in the gun slaying of Joey Mabolo Malaki.

Albarico said the three suspects were arrested Saturday after a witness identified as Robert Clavecilla surfaced and identified  the gas depot official as behind the murder of his subordinate Malaki.

Malaki, assigned as technical staff and tasked to report directly to the Petron main office, was killed on February 17 along Suterville by the two hired killers, according to Albarico.

“Clavecilla surfaced because his conscience was apparently bothering him as he used to work with the victim whom he said was a good man,” Albarico said.

He said Clavecilla, assigned as utility and tanker driver, revealed the plan was hatched in the middle of January last month when Clemente allegedly approached and asked him to look for hired killers to murder Malaki for P50,000.

According to Albarico, Clavecilla tapped the services of Delos Reyes and Sasabo to execute the plan.

The witness claimed Clemente handed the initial payment of P10,000 and the gun that was used to liquidate Malaki and the rest of the payment completed after the victim was gunned down.

The three suspects have been detained at the City Police office and were scheduled for inquest Monday.

The suspects declined to comment on the charges against them.