Quezon city: Six people implicated in the April 28 killing of a businessman and his driver at the corner of Timog Avenue and EDSA have already been identified, police said Tuesday. In a message sent to reporters, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director Brig. Gen. Randy Glenn Silvio said murder complaints are being prepared against the six, whose names he did not disclose to avoid compromising ongoing manhunt operations.
According to Philippines News Agency, some of the suspects took part in the surveillance of the primary victim, Ceferino 'Perry' Mariano, before the shooting. "There were other members in the surveillance operation before the shooting," Silvio said, adding that the QCPD was able to identify all the suspects because they had stayed in one place before the shooting. "The gunman is from Mindanao," he said.
Police previously identified the gunman and his companion, the one who drove the getaway motorcycle. An in-depth investigation showed that four other people were involved in the killing. Silvio also said they are coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the assailant's criminal background, including his possible involvement in other hit jobs. Mariano, 75, and his driver, Norberto Orimaco, 51, were attacked by two motorcycle-riding assailants and later died in the hospital. Police are looking into business rivalry as a possible motive.
Meanwhile, in Taguig City, police reported on Tuesday that nine of the city's Top 10 Most Wanted Persons in May have been arrested. In a statement, Taguig City Police Station (TCPS) chief Col. Julius A±onuevo said the arrests were carried out through sustained manhunt operations conducted by TCPS operatives. The apprehended individuals were wanted for various offenses, including statutory rape, acts of lasciviousness, qualified theft, falsification of commercial documents, robbery with violence, and violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
A±onuevo said the lone remaining suspect is the subject of a standing warrant of arrest and is currently under surveillance. "Intelligence-gathering and monitoring operations remain ongoing to determine the individual's whereabouts and facilitate the implementation of the warrant," he said.
