Cops nab suspect in fish trader’s slay

A suspect in the killing of a fish trader at the Navotas Fishport Complex last year fell into the hands of the authorities yesterday in Navotas.

PO2 Dante Majadas, officer on case, said a team led by SPO4 Mario Arias, Warrant and Follow-Up Unit chief, collared Sonny Sungal, 31, of Market 3, Navotas Fishport Complex.

Sungal, was the main suspect in the robbery try that led to the killing of fish trader Arnel Camua 42, in August last year.

He has been charged with murder and illegal possession of a firearm before the Navotas Prosecutor’s Office.

Two Navotas cops on the beat, PO2 Guianan Ibrahim and PO1 Jose Calibuso, who responded to the crime scene that day, have since been honored and given commendations for their honesty by higher police and government authorities, including Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco, after returning some P539,000 in cash and P649,000 in checks contained in Camua’s belt bag earlier taken by one of the fleeing suspects they later collared.

Sungal, arrested on a tip by a concerned citizen, was spotted walking along Lapu-lapu street in Barangay North Bay Boulevard South, with an unusual bulge on his waist.

The tipster’s hunch proved true as the bulge later turned out to be a handgun.

PO2 Ramir Macapagal put his left arm around the unsuspecting Sungal, introduced himself as a cop and confiscated Sungal’s caliber .38 revolver as he handcuffed him.

At the police station, Victoria Camua, 46, of Tanong, Malabon, positively identified Sungal as one of four assailants who gunned down her husband.

Jojo Gregorio, Sungal’s companion who was caught by responding policemen as he fled with the loot and later jailed, pointed to Sungal as their leader, police said.

Records showed Sungal was about to board his owner-type jeep to deposit the day’s earnings when the suspects pulled the heist. Camua resisted and was stabbed in the neck and the back.

The suspects fled immediately after the stabbing and eluded arrest. Gregorio, however, was collared as he fled with P1.2 million in cash and checks inside Sungal’s belt bag.

Still at large are John-john Tabio and a certain "Anton."