Suspect in slay of anti-drug cop nabbed

CEBU - Operatives of the Mandaue City Police Office have arrested one of three men suspected of killing anti-drug operative PO2 Jose Clint Cañete last October 21.

Cañete just left a court hearing of a drug case in the Lapu-Lapu City Regional Trial Court and was driving on the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge onboard his service vehicle when two men on a motorcycle shot him.

Deputy city director for Administration P/Supt. Mersan Premne yesterday said that the suspect, Arnel Montero, a resident of barangay Poblacion, Compostela town, was arrested during a buy-bust operation last Friday.

Premne said that although he was arrested and charged for a drug violation, the suspect made an extra-judicial confession which was signed by a lawyer during interrogation the day after his arrest.

Montero confessed that he was the one who drove the motorcycle while a friend of his who was riding pillion shot Cañete.

He said that he knew everything about the shooting of Cañete as he was present during the meeting between the assailant and the mastermind of the crime, allegedly a prominent citizen of Lapu-Lapu City.

Premne also said that they already invited the wife of Cañete to file charges against the suspect.

The suspect was already turned over to the Police Regional Office-7 and will be presented to the media today by regional police director Ronald Roderos. — Flor Z. Perolina/BRP   (THE FREEMAN)