BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO City – Eight suspects in the killing of a restobar waiter in Barangay North Fundidor, Molo district were arrested yesterday in a hot pursuit operation of the police. They yielded guns, grenades and suspected shabu.
Yesterday, at around 5 p.m., alleged gunman Ricardo “Rex” Amoroso surrendered to the police after some 30 minutes of negotiation.
The 53-year-old Amoroso was an ex-convict and a resident of Barangay Zamorra-Melliza, City Proper.
Fifteen grams of suspected shabu valued at around P102,000 and a fragmentation hand grenade were recovered during his surrender.
“Nanaog ko kag nagsulod ko di (at the house where he was found), nagtulog ko sa banyo nila. Mga kaagahon na ko nagsaylo di. Nalagyo ko kay nagdinalagan naman sila,” said Amoroso in an interview with XFM Iloilo.
He admitted using suspected shabu but denied killing waiter Alejandro Panes Jr., 31, saying, “Wala ko na kabalo ya. Sa balay lang man ako sadto.”
Amoroso said he would cooperate with the police and undergo a paraffin test.
“Nag-surrender ko gani kay wala ko ya sala,” he added.
Panes, a resident of Zone III, Barangay Dulonan, Arevalo district and a waiter at MO2 Restobar, was shot in front of the R.S. Layson compound around 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 11.
Police Staff Sergeant Mark John Suganob, case investigator of the Molo Police Station, said six suspects were arrested early morning yesterday on Dela Rama Street, Barangay Zamora-Melliza. They were the following:
* Jesus Gecaraya, 24, shoemaker from Bangga Inday, Zone 5, Barangay Calumpang, Molo
* Johnley Cadiz, 30, construction worker from Bangga Inday, Zone 5
* Julius Inesoria, 58, e-bike driver from Barangay Zamora-Melliza
* Jurex Amoroso, 32, tricycle driver from Barangay Zamora-Melliza
* Rene John Inesoria, 20, tricycle driver from Barangay Zamora-Melliza
* Maila Inesoria, 52, unemployed, from Barangay Zamora-Melliza
Police recovered from them 18 plastic sachets of suspected shabu weighing 85 grams and valued at around P578,000; two .45 pistols with six live rounds and two magazines; a fragmentation hand grenade; two black sling bags; and two motorcycles.
Hours after their arrest, another suspect, John Mendez, 42, of Barangay Monica-Blumentritt, City Proper, was also caught.
Police seized from Mendez a .9mm revolver with three live rounds and four sachets of suspected shabu valued at P81,600.
Police investigation showed that R.J. Inesoria allegedly drove a motorcycle with R. Amoroso, while Gecaraya and J. Amoroso served as lookouts. J. Inesoria, Cadiz and M. Inesoria (the live-in partner of R. Amoroso) helped the others escape by blocking the police.
What was the motive?
Iloilo City Police Office spokesperson Major Shella Mae Sangrines said the killing may have been work-related based on the joint investigation of the Molo Police Station, City Intelligence Unit and City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU).
“May nakabais nga customer ang aton biktima… Indi pa madetalye gid kung san-o kag ano nga sirkumstansya ngaa nagbalalais sila, but ang initial information ta may nakabais ini siya nga customer nga babayi,” said Sangrines.
She added: “Indi pa gid naton ma-klaro subong kung ano ang ginbaisan nga to, purely angut lang sa trabaho ukon basi may personal pa gid.”
Sangrines also said the person the victim argued with was likely connected with one of the suspects.
“Atong babayi nga nakabais, konektado… Ang isa sa ila gina-aassume naton possible gunman ukon kung may sa likod pa sini. Konektado ini sa babayi, that is why kung lantawon, daw mere pagbinaisay lang ini pero nagdalum siya because atong nakabais amo to ang nag-connect sa grupo sang gunman,” Sangrines said.
Was it drug-related?
The ICPO spokesperson clarified that even though suspected shabu was recovered from the suspects, there was no concrete evidence yet that the killing was drug-related.
“Ang babayi nga na-engkwentro sang biktima amo na ang connected gid sa mga suspects. Sa bahin sang biktima abi gina-check man naton ang iya background, and as of this time wala kita sang klaro nga ebidensya nga ma-connect ini sa illegal drugs,” said Sangrines.
Charges
Alleged gunman R. Amoroso will face charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9165, or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2003, and RA 9516 for illegal possession of explosives.
R. Amoroso, R.J. Inesoria, Gecaraya, and J. Amoroso may face murder charges.
Meanwhile, J. Inesoria and Cadiz will be charged for violating RA 9165, RA 10591 and RA 9516.
Mendez is facing charges for violation of RA 9165 and RA 10591 and M. Inesoria will be charged with obstruction of justice.
Swift arrests
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas lauded the city’s police force.
“I commend the PNP (Philippine National Police) for immediately arresting the suspects in the killing of the MO2 waiter. This only shows that if there is proper police work, the suspected killers can be immediately arrested,” Treñas said./PN
