CIDG men nab Valdez attacker

MANILA, Philippines - Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested the alleged killer of Muay Thai Association of the Philippines president Robert Valdez last Saturday.

CIDG director Chief Superintendent Raul Castañeda identified the suspect as Sonny Sumales, a former member of the Philippine Army.

Castañeda said that around 2 a.m., CIDG operatives led by Senior Inspector Wilfredo Sy with other agents of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines scoured the Tanay, Rizal area, where they nabbed Sumales at Barangay Daraitan.

CIDG National Capital Region Chief Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez said Sumales verbally admitted shooting Valdez over an old grudge.

Police said a gunman shot Valdez inside the Muay Thai gym in Pasig City last Feb. 21 and witnesses positively identified Sumales as the attacker.

Nerez noted that Sumales shot Valdez after the latter discouraged him from courting a lady Muay Thai member. Sumales was a former member of the association.

Police said Sumales could be harboring ill feelings against Valdez, who dismissed him from the association. He said his life became miserable since then.

Nerez said the case of murder has been filed before the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office and Inquest Prosecutor Nancy Peig recommended no bail. – Cecille Suerte Felipe