'Mastermind' in bizman's killing sued for gun, shabu possession

CEBU, Philippines – The man, who was tagged as the mastermind in the killing of a businessman in Carcar City early this month, is facing two criminal complaints before the Regional Trial Court after he was arrested last week for possession of firearms and illegal drugs while he was about to leave a hospital after a medical checkup.

Jay Regis Camotes, 32, of Poblacion 1, Carcar City was arrested by a team of policemen from the Theft and Robbery Section last July 22 when he was about to board a van in the premises of Chong Hua Hospital.

One of the three arrested suspects in the killing of businessman Eric Uraca, 34, an owner of a motorcycle store in Carcar City, pointed to Camotes as the one who hired him to kill the businessman last July 12.

The court recommended a bail of P80, 000 for illegal possession of firearms but recommended no bail for possession of illegal drugs against Camotes.

Camotes, who has a standing warrant of arrest for resistance and disobedience to a person in authority, was arrested after police received information that he was spotted at Chong Hua Hospital. Last July 1, Judge Grace Ytil of the Municipal Trial Court of Carcar City issued an alias warrant of arrest against him for the complainant filed by SPO1 Eduardo Bagul of Carcar City police after an encounter with the suspect almost two years ago.

Following his arrest, police conducted a body search on Camotes and recovered a .9mm pistol with 13 live bullets and one medium-sized heat-sealed plastic pack of shabu weighing 6.40 grams from him.

In a sworn statement, SPO1 Jeffrey Diola, one of the arresting officers, said that he discreetly penetrated the hospital after receiving information that Camotes was there.

Camotes was in the hospital for his continuous medication of the gunshot wound in his leg which he got when he accidentally fired his gun some time last year in Carcar City.

Diola said that after he confirmed that Camotes was indeed in the hospital and was carrying a firearm, he immediately alerted his companions and arrested the accused while he was about to board a vehicle and leave the hospital premises. (THE FREEMAN)