Suspect in ex- police chief’s slay arrested

One of three suspects in the ambush-slaying of former Malabon police chief retired Superintendent Dante Buenaventura last Friday was arrested by operatives in pursuit operations Tuesday night, police said yesterday.

Superintendent Freddie Panen, city police chief, identified the suspect as Crisanto Santos, allegedly a member of the Alex Boncayao Brigade using the alias "Ka Victor," 26, and a resident of Tukod, San Rafael, Bulacan. Seized from Santos was an MK2 fragmentation grenade.

Records showed Santos was collared at around 9 p.m. Monday along M. Sioson street in Barangay Dampalit, the same area where Buenaventura, 58, was waylaid and shot dead by three armed men.

Witness Raymond Hernandez led authorities to the suspect’s lair. Santos was positively identified as one of the killers of the former city police chief last July 2.

On inquest, no bail was recommended for the suspect by the Malabon Prosecutor’s Office. – Jerry Botial