Suspects in killing of Leyte mayor, son arrested

A rookie policeman and his cohort were arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) for their alleged involvement in the March 4 killing of Hindang, Leyte Mayor Roy Jumao-as and son Jake in Cebu City.

Director Rolando Garcia, Central Visayas police director, identified the suspects as PO1 Roque Bisnar and Neddy Polistico.

Garcia said the suspects were arrested by a composite team from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-7 Homicide Section and Intelligence branch led by Supt. Pablo Lara II after they were positively identified by several witnesses as the individuals who shot and killed Jumao-as and his son, Jake, in downtown Cebu.

According to the local police, Bisnar is an active-duty PNP member assigned at Police Station 2 of the Mandaue City police office.

Before joining the police force, he worked as the armed escort of former Mayor Betty Cabal.

It was only when Cabal lost to Jumao-as in the 2001 elections that Bisnar underwent training to become a policeman.

Jumao-as reportedly earned the ire and animosity of the bodyguard-turned-policeman because he allegedly influenced police authorities into transferring him to out-of-town assignments.

Polistico, 31, on the other hand is a native of Barangay Esperanza, Inopakan, Western Leyte and presently residing at Barangay Lawaan II, Talisay City.

During interrogation, Bisnar informed investigators that the motorcycle they used in the killing was in his house in Lower Mohon, Talisay City.

Garcia said investigators are still carefully putting together all available evidence to be able to present a strong case before the local court that would lead to the conviction of the suspects.