Trader tagged in the killing of fish vendor

CEBU, Philippines - A businessman was arrested by the police after he was tagged as mastermind in the killing of a fish vendor in Barangay Basak, Mandaue City last Wednesday morning.

Mandaue City Police identified the suspect as one Victor Yu, 46, a resident of Holy Family Townhouse in Barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City.

Yu was tagged as the one who hired Giovani Albano and two other companions who also hired the suspected gunman Regor Salazar and habal-habal driver Jhonry Sabejon to shoot the vendor.

Salazar and Sabejon were arrested by Mandaue police after the killing of fish vendor Marlon Bantolinao of barangay Basak.

Salazar was first arrested by Police Senior Inspector Genilo Veraque when he tried to escape after he shot Bantolinao onboard a public utility jeepney.        

Sabejon, a habal-habal driver, was arrested by the police during follow-up operation.

Both Salazar and Sabejon pointed Albano as the one who hired them in exchange for P20,000.

Salazar and Sabejon, now under police custody, informed the alleged mastermind that they already finish the operations.

They allegedly received the payment through a money transfer firm transaction with the money sent to them by a certain Victor Cimafranca.

The payment made the suspected assailant shot Bantolinao dead.

A man then introduced himself as Victor Cimfranca through text message informed Albano that he already sent the payment to Salazar and Sabejon.

Yu was positively identified by the security as the one who introduced himself as Victor Cimafranca.

Yu was implicated to the crime after investigation showed he is the owner of the Blackberry curve cellular phone with mobile number 09065871392 who texted Albano and informed him that the P20,000 payment had already been sent to Salazar and Sabejon.

The FREEMAN received unconfirmed reports that Bantolinao is not the real target of the suspected gunman and that he was only mistaken for the real target.

As of press time, the Mandaue City police are still preparing the filing of charges against the suspects. (FREEMAN)