Suspect in Malabon girl's shooting falls

MANILA, Philippines – Police arrested Saturday one of three suspects in the near-fatal shooting of a nine-year-old girl in Malabon City Friday night.

Superintendent Reynaldo Orante, acting chief of the Malabon City police, identified the suspect as Alvin Antimano, 30, a resident of Barangay Catmon, also in Malabon.

“Witnesses pointed to Antimano as the alleged triggerman,” Orante told The STAR yesterday.

Mary Anne Cabuguin, a fourth grader, was eating dinner with her father Merlito at their house in Barangay Longos when two men, armed with handguns, barged in and shot at them.

The girl was hit in the stomach while her father ducked for cover and was unhurt. After the shooting, the gunmen fled on a motorcycle driven by another suspect.

Orante said the gunmen’s target was the girl’s father, who reportedly owed Antimano money but failed to settle the debt.

“The girl is recovering in a hospital while the suspect is cooperating with us and expressed willingness to lead us to the two other suspects,” Orante said.

Antimano was arrested at his house in a follow-up operation at around midnight Saturday but the cops failed to recover any firearm from the suspect.

The suspect was set to undergo a paraffin test yesterday with the Northern Police District crime lab to determine whether he fired a gun or not.

Orante said charges of frustrated homicide and violation of the child abuse law were already filed against Antimano before the Malabon City prosecutor’s office.

As of yesterday, Orante’s men were still scouring Barangay Catmon, a reported haven of criminals in Malabon City, for the two suspects still at large.