The government moved closer to solving the murder of lawyer Richard Sison last month when NBI agents early yesterday arrested his alleged gunman in a raid on a house in barangay Camputhaw in Cebu City.
The agents surprised Nemuel Camay Sumabong in the house he was renting and the suspect was taken into custody without resistance. No weapon was taken from the suspect or at the scene.
Sumabong, 30, is a native of Bogo City and works as a security guard. He denied any involvement in the Sison killing.
He is a first cousin of Joel Sumabong, the suspected leader of a robbery gang responsible for the P9.4 million robbery of the Land Bank branch in that city in August of 2005.
Nemuel Sumabong, arrested at about 8 a.m. by an NBI team of supervising agents Rennan Augustus Oliva and Jesus Manapat, was positively identified later in a lineup by at least two witnesses to the shooting of Sison.
Sison, among whose latest cases were those in defense of Lapulapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza in connection with the alleged overpricing of lampposts used during the Asean Summit in Cebu last year, was shot shortly before noon last May 21 as he stopped for a red light at the busy intersection of M.J. Cuenco Avenue and V. Sotto.
The widow of Sison, who was present in the lineup and embraced one of the witnesses who fingered the suspect, said it appears that her prayers before the Blessed Virgin Mary at her shrine in Simala, Sibonga have been answered.
The NBI was to conduct followup operations last night to get the companion of Nemuel Sumabong, the one who drove the motorcycle used in the killing, as well as to secure the two-wheeled vehicle.
In denying any hand in the crime, Nemuel Sumabong said he was on duty as a guard near Carbon when the attack on the lawyer happened. He, however, could not present any evidence to support his alibi.
Nemuel Sumabong matched a cartographic sketch rendered by an NBI artist based on descriptions provided by witnesses.
But his brother, Nestor, insisted he was innocent and urged the NBI to do further background checks to prove he has never been linked to any crime.
The suspect is expected to be presented to the media today by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena at the NBI office before he will be brought to the prosecutor’s office for filing of charges against him.
He may also be charged separately in connection with the murder of businessman and losing candidate Renerio Arrogante III last March in Daanbantayan after he was identified as among those who acted as backup for Army Sergeant Moises Ludoc, who was earlier arrested by the NBI as the alleged triggerman.
Secretary Cerge Remonde, the Presidential Management Staff director general, who earlier expressed special concern over the high profile murders, yesterday commended the NBI for the arrest of the suspect in the Sison killing.
Remonde earlier met with NBI regional director Medardo de Lemos and Oliva to discuss the case, urging them to solve the case as soon as possible.
“ We commend the NBI Cebu and all those responsible for the arrest. They proved that our trust was not misplaced in them. Keep up the good work. I am especially gratified, ” Remonde said in a text message to The Freeman last night.
The arrest came at a time when the Lapulapu City government was getting impatient with the progress of the case. In fact, city attorney Vincent Joseph Lim was about to recommend to Radaza to put up a reward for any information leading to the solution of the case. (/JST)