Cops arrest 3 in slay of trader in Valenzuela

Three fugitives from the law wanted for the murder of a Filipino-Chinese over an old-grudge were arrested early Tuesday morning in Valenzuela City.

Chief Inspector Sotero Ramos, chief of the Northern Police District intelligence unit , identified the arrested suspects as Pepito Portin, 36; Felix Gulani, 34; and Randy Mainay, 27, all residing on Bonifacio street, Barangay Libis, Canumay, Valenzuela.

The arrest was made by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Floro Alejo of the Valenzuela Regional Trial Court in Oct. 3 this year.

Prior to the suspects’ arrest, Ramos said his office received information from a caller reporting the suspects’ presence in Barangay Libis. Ramos said he immediately formed a team to conduct surveillance in the area, which turned positive after they were spotted.

At around 5:30 a.m., police surprised them in their safehouse and subsequently brought them to the district office.

Last July 19, Teodoro Noynay and Arnel Yuson, together with the three suspects, conspired together in stabbing to death Pekino Ang in Barangay Libis, Canumay. Ramos said the murder of Ang was allegedly caused by an old grudge. — Jerry Botial