Killer of mayor’s aide surrenders

The primary suspect in the killing of an aide of Malabon City Mayor Canuto "Tito" Oreta has surrendered to authorities out of fear for his life.

Danilo Villanueva, 30, initially contacted Las Piñas City warden Chief Inspector Lyndon Torres and signified his intention to surrender the other day after a manhunt was ordered against him for killing Ronnie Garnuhan, the mayor’s aide.

Villanueva, who has pending cases for murder, frustrated murder, and drug dealing in the northern part of Metro Manila, has been tagged as "most wanted" by the Northern Police District (NPD).

Torres said Villanueva sought his assistance since the suspect refused to be placed under the custody of the police for fear of his life. 

Villanueva was a former inmate of the Navotas Municipal Jail, where Torres previously served as deputy warden.

Torres managed to convince Villanueva to surrender to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), assuring Villanueva of his safety under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The suspect was immediately turned over to DILG Secretary Angelo Reyes, who together with BJMP chief Director Arturo Alit presented Villanueva to the media yesterday.

Reyes said Villanueva was tagged by the Malabon police as the principal suspect in the shooting of Garnuhan, last Dec. 15 at the corner of Labahita and Hito streets in Barangay Longos in Malabon City.

Garnuhan sustained two gunshot wounds in the back and died while undergoing surgery at the Tondo Medical Center. 

During interrogation by Reyes, Villanueva revealed that he was hired by a certain Amado Mendoza, who is allegedly involved in illegal activities in the area.

Villanueva claimed Mendoza ordered him to kill Garnuhan in exchange for P50,000.