Drug probe leads to arrest of gunman in judge's murder

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - - Police authorities have arrested the suspected gunman in the killing of a regional trial court judge, during an entrapment operation, according to an official.

Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro, City Police director, identified the suspect as Mohammad Alkhalidz Paraji Amisali, 22, tagged as the gunman in the gun slaying of Judge Reynerio Estacio.

Estacio, who was handling high-profile cases, was killed on Feb. 28 a few meters away from his house at Barangay Tugbungan while he was on his way to his office with his wife on board their sport utility vehicle (SUV).

Casimiro said Amisali was  arrested with two others at about 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Sunsire Street, Barangay Talon-Talon by the elements of the Police Station 6. Amisali and his companions were initially targeted  for illegal drug possession.

“However, we received information that one of the guys was the gunman in the Estacio case,” Casimiro said.

The suspect was subjected to a police line up  and confirmed Monday morning  that he was the gunman in  the Estacio murder, according to Casimiro.

He said the leads on the arrest of Amisali came after the joint team of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Central Police Office under the Special Task Group (STG) reviewed the  cases handled by the slain judge.

Casimiro disclosed that Amisali was among the 11 suspects arrested on Oct. 10, 2012 in connection with the grenade throwing incident on the pick-up truck of Hadja Farida Hajia along Gov. Camins.

However, three of the suspects in the case, including Amisali, were released on ground of insufficient evidence, according to Casmiro.

He said it was until last February 27 when one of the detained remaining suspects in the grenade throwing case agreed to turn witness.

“We are now determining who could have masterminded the murder of Judge Estacio,” Casimiro added.

Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar described the arrest as a breakthrough in the investigation and lauded the police, NBI and the CIDG in pursuing the case.

“We hope those whoever were behind the murder of Judge Estacio will be brought to the bar of justice and justice will also be given to his family,” Salazar said.