Suspect in shooting of girl, 5, arrested

CEBU, Philippines - The suspect in the shooting of  a five-year-old girl in Naga City Cebu was arrested in a joint operation by the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch (PIDMB) and the Naga City police past 12 noon yesterday.

It took almost an hour for the PIDMB to arrest the suspect, Felix Alimento, 21, who tried to elude the police after he was sighted in his residence in Sitio Puntod, Barangay Taghagemit in Naga City.

Sr. Insp. Wilson Abot, team leader, told The FREEMAN that Alimento was positively identified by Prima Cantorne, the grandmother of the Jinjin Cantorne who died due to multiple gunshot wounds after unidentified men, allegedly including Alimento, fired shots at their house last Saturday night.

 "Almost one hour gyud mi nagukod niya. Didto na namo abti sa may ulingan dapit gihapon sa ilaha pero bukid na kaayo," Abot said in a phone interview.

PIDMB failed to recover though any firearm or evidence from Alimento.

Abot said there could be two to four persons involved in the crime but it was only Alimento who was identified by Cantorne.

He added that they are looking into personal grudge as motive of the killing since some of Cantorne's family members were figured in several shooting incidents in the past.

"Iyang bana napusilan pud adtong 2005 unya iyang usa ka anak napusilan gihapon adtong 2004 pulos patay," Abot said.

Police are now preparing criminal charges against Alimento and his cohorts.

Meanwhile, a driver of a delivery truck was allegedly shot to death by his friend following a heated argument in Sitio Roadside, Barangay Sing-sing, Balamban last Tuesday evening.

Galen Ponsica, 47, of Sitio Pitogo, Barangay Hingatmonan, succumbed to several gunshot wounds on different parts of his body after he was reportedly shot by Francis Arombo, 38.

SPO1 Jose Ranielito Villarino, investigator, said that Ponsica was driving a delivery truck when he passed by a store where he saw Arombo which prompted him to stop and approach him.

"Nangita man gud kuno ning suspek aning biktima mao to gihunungan niya," Villarino said in a phone interview.

Villarino said there were a few exchange of words between the two before Arombo pulled out a handgun from his waist.

Villarino said that Arombo repeatedly shot the victim, hitting Ponsica in both arms, abdomen and in the head.

He further said that both were reportedly good friends and none of their colleagues knew the reason of their conflict.

Police are now eyeing personal grudge as the motive of the crime as law enforcers continue to pursue Arombo. — (FREEMAN)