Alleged mastermind in Samar judge’s murder posts bail

An official of the National Bureau of Investigation yesterday said that the court sheriff, who is the alleged mastermind in the murder of Samar Judge Roberto Na­vidad, posted an P80,000 bail on the same day that he was arrested.

NBI spokesman Allan Contado said Santos Tarrayo Jr., sheriff of Branch 32 of the Regional Trial Court in Calbayog City and a resident of Milaflor Subdivision, Purok 7, Barangay Dagum, Calbayog City, posted the bail bond.

The alleged gunman, Joel Alebario, a parolee, and a resident of Purok 1, Barangay Dagum, Calbayog, City, is still detained.

Both suspects were arrested Thursday in a raid in their homes.

Contado said Alebario was earlier charged for robbery in band, but his offense was downgraded to theft after he pleaded guilty to the commission of the crime.

The NBI lodged charges of violation of illegal possession of firearms against Tarrayo while violation of illegal possession of deadly weapon and murder were filed against Alebario before the Calbayog City Prosecutor’s Office.

“Illegal possession of deadly weapon is a bailable offense so he can apply for bail. As for the murder charges, supposed to be a non-bailable offense, he would have to undergo a preliminary investigation and if there is a probable cause that he actually committed the offense, then a case for murder would be filed in court against him. It is only at this time that the court will issue a warrant of arrest,” Contado said.

Head Agent Danielito Lalu­sis, chief of the NBI-Samar District Office, said: “A letter informing the Parole and Probation Administration regarding the positive identification by our witness of Joel Alebario in the assassination of the late Judge Navidad was sent to Felipe Erinco, Calbayog City Parole and Probation Officer, Parole and Probation Administration.”

Contado said the witness was two feet away when he allegedly saw the gunman shot Navidad. He added: “We also have to ask the parole officer what appropriate action they would take against Ale­bario since he committed an infraction of the law, when he violated the conditions of his parole. Actually, there are reports that since he was out on parole, he has not reported to his parole officer.”

It appeared that at around 7:10 p.m. of Jan. 14, the victim parked his black Nissan Patrol bearing (TPL-991), went inside a Mercury drug­store to purchase medicine then walked back to his vehicle at the corner of Gomez Street and Rosales Boulevard, in front of Nijaga Park, Barangay Central in Calbayog City.

When he was about to start the engine, an unidentified suspect approached him and shot him once with a cal. 45 pistol on the lower left eye, causing his death.

The suspect was described to be about 5’4 ft. in height, of medium built and wore a black jacket and a ball cap. He fled soon after the incident.