1 arrested in jeweler's murder

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon province policeman was arrested for allegedly gunning down a jeweler in Las Piñas City yesterday.

Southern Police District spokesperson Chief Inspector Jenny Tecson said victim Maria Cristina Maru was declared dead on arrival at the Las Piñas City Perpetual Hospital.

Las Piñas police chief Senior Superintendent Romulo Sapitula said Maru was heading home to Barangay Pulang Lupa from a court hearing at the city hall at around 10:06 a.m. when four armed men in a Honda sedan blocked her Hyundai Genesis and shot her.

Patrolling policemen rushed to chase the gunmen, who fled and left behind Police Officer 2 Bayani Mercado of the Tayabas police station.

Suspected gunman-for-hire Police Officer 2 Bayani Mercado of the Tayabas police station, on the other hand, is under the custody of Las Piñas City police.

“It seems that somebody paid these gunmen to kill the woman,” Sapitula said.

Sapitula declined to give more information on the killings but said they are planning to summon the person whom Maru slapped with estafa charges before the Las Piñas court.