2nd suspect in Cinco murder case escapes

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said the second suspect in the ambush-murder of former Commission on Elections information chief Velma Cinco has passed the lie-detector test, the first of a series of procedures to determine his link to the slaying. But before NBI agents could start the second step, which is the police lineup, the suspect "escaped" immediately from investigators.

A source said the suspect, whose name was withheld pending investigation, was positively identified by a witness as one of the gunmen, who peppered with bullets Cinco’s Kia Pride car on Nov. 20.

"He (was) tested negative for deception in the lie-detector test but he left before we could push through with the police lineup. We have no legal ground to hold him because he was not arrested. He voluntarily submitted himself for investigation upon the advice of his friends," the source said.

The NBI agent refused to disclose what questions were asked of the suspect in the lie-detector test, which was administered late Wednesday.

The first suspect Conrado Robles has been charged in the Manila Regional Trial Court with murder for Cinco’s death, and frustrated murder for wounding Cinco’s son Carlo.

According to NBI sources, the second suspect was identified by a witness, who gave information that led to the arrest of Robles.

Two armed men who killed Cinco in a broad daylight ambush in Manila last Nov. 20, were wounded. The source also said the NBI is now establishing links and gathering enough evidence to support its case against the mastermind, whose identity was not revealed. – Cecille Suerte Felipe