Suspects in killing of barangay captain, grenade blast fall

CEBU, Philippines - The suspects in the killing of barangay captain in Carcar City and the grenade blast that killed an elderly couple also in Carcar were arrested during a buy-bust operation last Thursday night.

Police arrested Claire Sanchez alias “Big Boy Velez,” 37, of Barangay Bolinawan, Carcar City and Adrian Labra, 24, the son of Barangay Napo captain Mario Labra.

Sanchez is tagged as one of the primary suspects in the killing of Jose Diac Husain just a few meters away from his house in sitio Bacsije four days after elections.

Labra, on the other hand, is tagged as the one behind the grenade blast in sitio Kamanggahan, Barangay Napo, that killed Felipe Nacua, 72, and his wife Felicisima, 70, four days before the elections.

During the operation outside a pension house in Barangay Poblacion 1, operatives of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (RAIDSOTG) also seized shabu worth P30,000; drug paraphernalia, and a Colt .45 pistol from the suspects.

The multicab with plate number YBJ-721 used by the suspects was also confiscated.

RAIDSOTG assigned a poseur buyer to transact with Sanchez using boodle money. The arrest was made after the transaction was consummated.

Charges for illegal possession of firearms and for violating the election gun ban will be filed against Sanchez while a separate case for possession of illegal drugs and paraphernalia will be filed against him and Labra.

Sr. Supt. Erson Digal, acting director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, said they are also preparing another case against Labra after receiving reliable information that he is the one behind the grenade blast.

Digal said they are also gathering statements of witnesses who have identified Sanchez as one who alleged killed Husain.

Digal said they are optimistic that the illegal drugs activity in Carcar City will be lessened with the arrest of the two suspects, but warned more raids would be conducted.

Labra and Sanchez both denied the accusations, including accusations that they are gun-for-hires, as said by RAIDSOTG.   (FREEMAN NEWS)