2 suspects in Cinco slay now in custody?

Investigators are zeroing in on two suspects in the Nov. 20 killing of Commission on Elections (Comelec) information chief Velma Cinco.

Federico Castro Jr., head of the Western Police District’s Task Force Cinco, told reporters that one of the suspects matched a police cartographic sketch, while the other is an alleged bodyguard of the mastermind.

"One of them matched the cartographic sketch, while the other was suspiciously absent from his post on the day Cinco was shot dead," Castro said.

Castro refused to name the two suspects but added that one of them, the alleged bodyguard of the mastermind, was suspiciously absent from the side of the mastermind on the day Cinco was killed. "In almost all of the activities of the mastermind, (the suspect) was there. But he was not at his post the time the incident occurred," he said.

Meanwhile, the two suspects in the Cinco murder were reportedly arrested yesterday afternoon in a Southern Tagalog province by NBI operatives and elements of the Manila police’s Task Force Cinco.

Though the NBI refused to confirm or deny the sketchy report of the arrest of the two suspects, Castro said they "are still in the process of interrogating (the suspects)."

"We cannot at the moment conform or deny the report. We are still in the process of interrogation. We want to be sure about this," said Castro.

Castro added that the WPD has also asked the military to conduct a background investigation on one of the suspects. Aside from the two identified suspects, investigators are also monitoring the activities of three other suspects, one of whom is reportedly a former member of the Philippine Army.

Meanwhile, Laverne Manzano, a one-time bodyguard of former Comelec Education and Information Department chief Angelina Matibag, has executed an affidavit before the National Bureau of Investigation.

Castro hinted that Manzano could provide important leads in the ongoing investigation.

"He was softened a bit. He may provide us with leads. If he has knowledge, it would be a big plus," he said.

As these developed, Castro said that a ballistics test failed to match Manzano’s 9-mm Ruger pistol with the four slugs and five spent shells recovered by police from the crime scene.

Cinco, 63, officer-in-charge of the Comelec’s Information and Education Department, was being driven by her son Carlo, 37 from their house to her work at about 8 a.m. aboard her red Kia car with plate number TDR-779 when their way was blocked by the suspects aboard a motorcycle at the corner of Eden and Pedro Gil streets.

The suspects immediately opened fire with 9 mm pistols. Cinco was hit several times in the face and body. Carlo sustained two bullets wounds in the left arm.

Velma’s 47-year-old sister, Marian Jayme, who was seated at the backseat was unhurt and later executed an affidavit before the police. In her affidavit, Jayme said her sister received several threats from a certain "Director Matibag" of the Comelec. Former Comelec information chief Angelina Matibag later denied having any involvement with Cinco’s murder.

After shooting the victim, the suspects quickly sped-off towards President Quirino Avenue.

Velma was rushed to the Manila Doctors Hospital but was declared dead on arrival due to multiple bullet wounds in the body and head. Her son was rushed to the Philippine General Hospital for treatment of two bullet wounds in the left arm. – Mike Frialde