Pandacan’s most wanted falls

The most wanted person in Pandacan, Manila was finally arrested more than two years after he allegedly killed two men and shot a woman on New Year’s Day in 2005, police announced yesterday.

Superintendent Abad Osit, chief of the Pandacan police station, said the arrest of Wenceslao Aburot, 56, is covered by warrants of arrest issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 54 Judge Manuel Barrios for two counts of murder and attempted murder.

Aburot was charged with shooting Henry Demafeliz and Michael Grilo and seriously wounding Katrina Sambilay. Aburot, a member of the “Bahala na Gang,” escaped and went into hiding after the shooting.

Osit formed a team of operatives to hunt down Aburot after he received information that the suspect returned to Pandacan recently.

“He might have thought that he was already off the hook after hiding for more than two years. It’s good that the residents kept their guard up against this wanted person and immediately informed the police when they sighted him,” Osit said.

Records show that prior to the shooting, Aburot had been detained for almost 12 years at the San Ramon penal colony in Zamboanga province for frustrated homicide and was released on parole. He subsequently moved to Pandacan.

In his detention cell, Aburot said he shot the victims during a riot involving members of a rival gang.

Osit said he constantly reviewed records of wanted persons in his area of jurisdiction in compliance with the “Mamang Pulis” program of Philippine National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. to make the streets peaceful and orderly. – Nestor Etolle