Police file multiple murder raps versus gunman, driver in slay of lawyer's wife

CEBU, Philippines - A criminal complaint for multiple murder was filed yesterday before the Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office against the alleged gunman who ambushed and killed the wife of a lawyer and two others last month.

Also charged with Tommy Echavez was the driver of the getaway motorcycle, whose identity is withheld upon the request of the police because of an ongoing follow-up operation against the suspect.

At least five witnesses have positively identified Echavez as the gunman who killed Virginia Sesbreño, Joshua Young and Soledad Epanto last February 1 at the South Coastal Road in Barangay Cansojong.

The witnesses said they saw Echavez chased the victim’s car and fired upon them. The police explained that the filing of the case was delayed because they had to secure all the needed documents including the autopsy reports and the death certificates of the victims.

Echavez earlier denied his involvement in the ambush. The suspect, the police said, is a gun-for-hire. He was arrested following a shootout with the police last Sunday wherein he was injured.

The police were out to serve a warrant of arrest against Echavez for illegal possession of firearms when he shot it out with the policemen. The police seized from him a caliber .45 pistol with several rounds of ammunition and a hand grenade.

The police have already filed a separate complaint for illegal possession of firearm and explosive against him before the prosecutor’s office.— (FREEMAN)