Cop wanted for killing COA official arrested

A policeman tagged as the number one most wanted person in Zamboanga City for his role in the killing of an official of the Commission on Audit and his wife last year, was arrested by government forces in Makati City Saturday.

PO1 Arthur Gomez, 32, a resident of Rosas Drive, Santa Catalina, Zamboanga City, did not resist arrest when cornered by joint elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) in the vicinity of Palar Village in Makati City at about 3:45 p.m.

Senior Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, head of the CIDG National Capital Region said the arrest of Gomez was based on the strength of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Reynerio Estacio of Regional Trial Court Branch 14 for the killing of lawyer Vilma Aguias, department chief of the COA in Western Mindanao on Aug. 2, 2007.

Velasquez said Gomez also has a standing arrest warrant issued by Judge Edilberto Absin of Branch 29 for the killing of his wife. The two judges recommended no bail for Gomez.

Gomez was tagged as the planner in the killing of Aguias.

The COA official was on her way to work when attacked by three men in Tetuan Village on Aug. 2 last year.

Police arrested the alleged gunman, Eduardo Tan, alias Kabayo, who pointed to Ernie Caraecle, president of the State College Marines Sciences and Technology as the mastermind in Aguias killing. It was established that Caraecle wanted Aguias killed after she discovered alleged anomalies involving the school president. Aguias was instrumental in the filing of charges against the school official before the Ombudsman.

Caraecle went into hiding before the court issued an arrest warrant against him.

Gomez was initially arrested but he escaped and also went into hiding.

Velasquez said an informant turned up before Superintendent Mitch Filart, head of the CIDG Quezon City field office, claiming that he saw Gomez in Makati City.

After a thorough coordination with his counterparts from ISAFP, Filart conducted several weeks of surveillance operation before putting into effect the arrest of Gomez, who did not put up a fight.

During tactical interrogation, Filart said Gomez admitted his role in the killing of Aguias.

“He claimed that he was set up by a prosecutor and he is now trying to get even with him,” said Filart, who pointed out that Gomez would be turned over to the two courts in Zamboanga City in due time.         – Non Alquitran