Worker wanted for killing bully surrenders

A laborer sought for the murder of his neighbor two years ago in Navotas City surrendered Friday to the police.

Orlando de Leon, 32, a resident of Barangay Sipac, Navotas City, admitted killing Claro Atacador sometime in 2007 for “self defense.”

“I shot Atacador to defend myself. I only wrestled from him the revolver I used,” De Leon told The STAR.

According to De Leon, Atacador died on the spot from a bullet wound in the head. He said Atacador tried to shoot him and he put up a fight.

“I did not regret killing him. He is a bully in our area and I was always his victim,” De Leon said.

De Leon was charged with murder before the Malabon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) as well as his two brothers-in-law, Jun Espinosa and Robert Espinosa, whom De Leon said were wrongly linked in the case.

Judge Benjamin Aquino, of the Malabon City RTC Branch 73, issued a warrant of arrest for murder against the suspects last February.

The two brothers were earlier arrested but De Leon avoided arrest by transferring from one place to another.

De Leon said he sought the help of radio reporter Ismael Santos, who also asked the assistance of the Northern Police District-District Police Intelligence Operation Unit (NPD-DPIOU) headed by Chief Inspector Jerome Balbontin.

A five-man team, led by Inspector Rodrigo Torio, picked up De Leon at his house at around 3 p.m.

The NPD-DPIOU is set to turn De Leon over to the Navotas City Jail next week. – Pete Laude