Ex-police official implicated in double murder

A newly retired Philippine National Police (PNP) official was arrested by operatives of the Manila Police District (MPD) yesterday after he was implicated in the murder of two sisters in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

Two witnesses have identified Senior Inspector Paquito Co, who retired last December from the PNP’s Traffic Management Group, as one of two men who shot Lorna Retumban, 36, and her sister Rose, 25, while they were about to board a passenger jeepney in Sta. Mesa. Both were shot in the head.

Witnesses have also identified Co’s nephew, Ryan Sapitula, as the other gunman. Sapitula is now the subject of a manhunt.

"See to it that you have an airtight case against the suspects. I will personally monitor the progress of the case," Manila Mayor Lito Atienza told MPD director Senior Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa during a presentation of the alleged mastermind at the Manila City Hall yesterday. Atienza also commended the Manila policemen, led by Chief Inspector Alejandro Yanquiling Jr., for solving the murders.

Two witnesses, including Rose’s boyfriend, told police they saw Co and Sapitula shot the two women from behind. The suspects then boarded a white Toyota Corolla and sped off.

The two witnesses happened to be at the scene because they were meeting the sisters to accompany them to Zambales. They went into hiding out of fear. The witnesses were neighbors of Co.

Police said Co had arrested Rose, a helper of his mother-in-law, in Zambales on March 7 and turned her over to the MPD’s theft and robbery section for qualified theft.

An inquest fiscal later ordered Rose released for further investigation, and her sister Lorna fetched her at the police headquarters on March 12.

Co, however, brought the sisters to the barangay hall in Pureza street where he allegedly tortured them into admitting the whereabouts of the jewelry and money that he claimed Rose collected as payment for a loan.

The employer recently died last January and was believed to have granted Rose the authority to collect the loan payments. Co reportedly wanted to retrieve the collected jewelry and money.

Homicide operatives led by Senior Police Officers Ismael dela Cruz and Virgo Villareal arrested Co at his home in Arellano Street in Sta. Mesa. The police, however, failed to find the guns used in the shooting and the get-away vehicle.

Co, who denied the accusations, will be charged with two counts of murder, according to Yanquiling.

Atienza has pledged to provide financial support to the witnesses, who have been placed in the MPD’s witness protection program. – Nestor Etolle