PNP identifies suspects in Perry Mariano, driver slay

MANILA, Philippines — Six people have been implicated in the murder of Ceferino “Perry” Mariano and his driver in Quezon City last April 28, in what police explained was a carefully orchestrated scheme that targeted the long-time billiards patron and businessman.

Brig. Gen. Randy Glenn Silvio, Quezon City Police District (QPCD) director, said they are preparing charges for murder against the suspects before the city prosecutor’s office.

Silvio declined to disclose the names of the suspects so as not to compromise manhunt operations, but said the six include the gunman who shot Mariano and his driver Norberto Orimaco at the corner of Timog Avenue and EDSA in Barangay South Triangle.

“The gunman is from Mindanao,” Silvio said in a message on Viber.

The QCPD is coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the assailant’s criminal background, including his possible involvement in other hit jobs.

Police previously identified the gunman’s companion, the man who drove the getaway motorcycle.

An in-depth investigation showed four other people who were involved in Mariano’s killing.

According to Silvio, the other suspects, whose identities were also established by investigators, took part in surveillance operations on Mariano.

“There were other members in the surveillance operation before the shooting,” Silvio said, adding that the QCPD was able to identify all of them as they were staying in one place before the shooting.

Police are looking into business rivalry as among the motives in Mariano’s murder.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier cited Mariano’s background as owner of nightclubs and gambling joints, information which he said could give probers leads on the motive behind his murder.

“We are investigating that angle,” Remulla said.