Navotas' most wanted man falls

MANILA, Philippines - Northern Police District (NPD) police officers arrested Navotas City’s most wanted fugitive, an alleged contract killer wanted for the murder of a police officer five months ago, at the fish port complex Thursday.

Senior Police Officer 1 Fernando Gomboc and his team were gathering intelligence on the illegal drug trade at the fish port when they spotted Albert Castro, 38, alias Allan Metallica, roaming around the fish port’s Market 3.

Gomboc contacted Chief Inspector Romeo Ricalde Jr., NPD anti-illegal drug head, who led a 10-man team to arrest Castro. “Knowing the suspect’s background and being the No. 1 most wanted person of Navotas, we came prepared for him,” Ricalde told The STAR.

Ricalde said they confiscated two .45 caliber pistols and two sachets of what they suspect to be shabu.

Castro is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by a Malabon court for the killing of PO1 Christopher Estor of the Navotas police on March 20, PO3 Alexander Arguelles said.

Arguelles added that Castro is wanted by a Navotas court for two counts of homicide and a Malabon court for a drug offense.

Castro said he owns the pistols, claiming he needs them because he is a member of a civilian peacekeeping force in Navotas, but denied owning the sachets of shabu. He also admitted killing Estor, but said it was in self-defense because the policeman allegedly shot at him during a minor altercation.

Castro said he was trying to “live a new life” after spending 10 years in prison for robbery but he often gets in trouble. He was released from the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa in December 2011.