MPD says DPWH executive's slay 'partly solved' with hitman's arrest

MANILA, Philippines – Manila Police District (MPD) officials consider the murder of a ranking official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Port Area, Manila last March 11 partially solved after a witness identified one of his alleged attackers, arrested for another crime by the Northern Police District (NPD).

DPWH undersecretary for operations Ramon Aquino was killed in a daring ambush by two armed men as he was leaving the DPWH compound, together with his driver and bodyguard, on board a black Toyota Fortuner past 3 p.m.

Chivas Gerona, alias “Sniper,” 23, was arrested June 6 at a parking lot in a mall in Molino, Bacoor, Cavite while reportedly about to purchase a handgun from a police agent.

NPD officials said Gerona and his group were responsible for the ambush of Aquino and Metro Manila Development Authority operations chief Roberto Esquivel’s son and driver in San Pedro, Laguna last Feb. 2.

“One of our witnesses has identified Gerona through his photos as the gunman in the Aquino ambush. The witness saw and observed Gerona at around 10 a.m. under a tree in front of the DPWH compound on March 11, apparently waiting for someone,” said MPD deputy director for administration Senior Superintendent Miguel Laurel, the former chief of Task Force Aquino.

Three more MPD witnesses are scheduled to identify Gerona in a police lineup at the NPD headquarters, according to homicide section head Chief Inspector Alberto Peco.

Manila police will also try to unmask the mastermind in the Aquino ambush with the help of Gerona, Peco added.

Superintendent Edwin Wagan, NPD-District Intelligence Division (DID) chief, told The STAR Aquino’s contractor friends raised P10 million for the arrest of his killers.

Wagan said that Gerona, a member of a breakaway group of the Revolutionary Proletariat Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) in Southern Luzon, turned gun-for-hire and was also implicated in the killing of former press secretary Ignacio Bunye’s brother in 2006.

“His brother Brandy Gerona was arrested in Bunye’s case but was killed while in prison by a fellow inmate last Jan. 6” Wagan said.

He said the four Gerona siblings, including Chivas and Brandy, are also wanted for another killing in Nueva Ecija “some years ago.”

Police said Gerona was one of the top guns of the liquidation squad of the New People’s Army’s Alex Boncayao Brigade. He earned the moniker “Sniper” due to his ability with rifles, having been trained by a Scout Ranger in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija in his teens.

During tactical interrogation, Gerona claimed his group is involved in collecting revolutionary taxes from a high government official at P500,000 a month and a city mayor for P100,000 a week.

He told police his group’s next target is a certain Eric Peralta, alias “Forty,” who is reportedly responsible for killing his brother, Randy Nilo.

Peco said Gerona is one of the police’s target personalities during rallies by cause-oriented groups.