Shooting suspect details plan to murder policeman

CEBU - Murder charges are expected to be filed today against Arnel Tejero Montero, one of the suspects in the killing of PO2 Jose Clint Cañete, after he confessed of driving the motorcycle used during the shooting following his arrest last Friday.

In an interview yesterday, Montero admitted he agreed to participate in the operation because of the money promised to him.

The alleged gunman, a certain Ronel “Tata” Wagas, reportedly approached him last October 16, 2008, five days before Cañete was killed at the Mandaue-Mactan bridge.

“Niadtong Oktubre 16, 2008, ning-adto si Tata sa among balay ug iya kong gisultihan nga adto unya ta sa Opon kay adunay kwartahonon. Nakasabot ko nga dunay mobayad niya kay dunay pabirahan, ug ako usab siyang gitubag nga sige, kwartahonon man kaha,” Montero said.

Wagas remains at large.

On October 21, they reportedly waited for Cañete at the parking lot of the Lapu-Lapu City Hall of Justice where Cañete was attending a hearing of a drug case against suspected drug personality Edward Palingkod.

When Cañete appeared from the Hall of Justice, they reportedly followed the policeman until the Mandaue-Mactan bridge.

“Unya pagdayon lugsong sa pulis, na-trap siya sa truck. Ako siyang gidul-itan unya gipusil siya ni Tata nga sa akong paminaw mga upat ka-sunod-sunod nga buto. Nalamba ang pulis padong sa gutter ug kami nipadayon paingon ubos ug niliko ngadto paingon sa Pakna-an lapos ngadto sa Labogon ug nigawas ngadto sa Basak ug pauli na ngadto sa Compostela,” Montero narrated.

Montero said a certain Paquito Oyao or Boss Quipot Oyao was the one who allegedly commissioned Wagas to kill Cañete. Cañete was the one who captured Oyao during a buy-bust operation.

Police also recovered proof that Wagas visited Oyao at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail two days prior to Cañete’s murder.

Montero said he received P5,000 from Wagas who reportedly received P20,000 for the operation.

Police regional office chief Ronald Roderos said they conducted the buy-bust operation last week after receiving information that Montero is allegedly a gun-for-hire. After his arrest, however, Montero said he has never killed anybody.

Roderos said that during the course of monitoring Montero for more than a month, they also found out that he was engaged in the illegal drugs trade.

Montero and one Joseph Salem Barbero were arrested during the buy-bust operation at the Park Mall at the North Reclamation Area.

Recovered from Montero were one medium pack of suspected shabu, a wad of paper wrapped with P500 bill as boodle money used as buy bust money, and .45 caliber pistol with one magazine loaded with seven live rounds and two other extra ammunitions.

After the arrest, Montero executed an extrajudicial confession detailing his involvement in the Cañete killing.

Cañete’s wife, Charito, yesterday thanked the police for Montero’s capture. – Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)