Cops nab suspect in Carreta killing

One of the three men who allegedly killed a newly arrived overseas worker Monday night was arrested during a police line-up yesterday morning inside the Ponce Compound in barangay Carreta.

Elements from the Homicide Section, Special Weapons and Tactics team and elements of the Fuente and Waterfront police stations went to the area after receiving a tip from an informant about the presence of Roland Sismar, one of the suspects in the murder of Maynard Saa.

PO3 Robert Escarlan of the Homicide Section said the suspects could have mistaken Saa, who had just arrived from Dubai, for a policeman or a police asset because he was not familiar in the area.

The police also believed that the victim might have gone to the area to buy illegal drugs since the place is a well-known drug haven.

During the operation, seven men, including Sismar, were invited for a police line-up where witnesses positively identified him as one of the suspects in Saa's killing.

The lawmen immediately arrested Sismar, who was presented with an arrest warrant for his involvement in another murder case.

Another suspect, Elmer Oliva, was not around when the police arrived. Residents in area said Oliva has been living in sitio Kalubihan, barangay Guadalupe, but has now gone into hiding after Saa's killing.

Saa's address is still unknown, but his girlfriend said he was from Mindanao and had to pass by Cebu to visit her.

Prior to the incident, Saa and his girlfriend ate at a fast-food chain where he left her to buy something. But the victim did not return an hour later, prompting her to seek assistance from the police.

The police then told her that Saa was shot a few minutes before she arrived at the police station.