Suspect in businessman’s slay nabbed in Malabon

MANILA, Philippines - A Mandaluyong businessman’s alleged killer, who also reportedly worked as a Malabon politician’s aide, was arrested by the Malabon police Friday night, investigators said yesterday.

Marlon Marquina, a former Malabon City government employee, was cornered along Sanciangco street by police officers led by Inspector Delta Navarra.

Police Officer 2 Christopher Rodriguez said Navarra and his team received information that Marquina was in the area. He said Marquina ran when police officers moved to apprehend him.

Marquina has been charged with murder along with then city administrator Benjamin Villacorta for the killing of Michael Buquid Jr. on June 20, 2011. Villacorta surrendered on July 12, 2012 after a warrant for his arrest came out.

The case against Marquina and Villacorta was filed with the Malabon Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 74 by Department of Justice Assistant State Prosecutor Ferdinand Fernandez, who recommended that the suspects not be allowed to post bail.

According to Rodriguez, Marquina was turned over to the Quezon City RTC yesterday morning because the relatives of Buquid petitioned the court for a change of venue.  

A pedicab driver who witnessed the killing identified Marquina as the man who shot Buquid, while the Northern Police District traced shells from the crime scene to a gun he owned.

Buquid’s widow told the National Bureau of Investigation that her husband, owner of 20th Pharma Trade in Mandaluyong City, was in the middle of a P50-million business transaction with the Malabon City government the day he was killed. She said Buquid was supposed to meet Villacorta and Marquina that day.