5 suspects in Cebu fiscal's slay arrested

MANILA, Philippines - Elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Region 7 (CIDG-7) yesterday arrested five suspects in the daylight ambush of an assistant prosecutor in Cebu City last Jan. 7.

Joint elements of the CIDG-7, the Regional Mobile Group and Regional Intelligence Division led by Superintendent Ritchie Posadas first arrested Allan Sinogat, one of the alleged gunmen in the killing of assistant prosecutor Patrick Ian Osorio, in his house in Barangay Maghaway, Talisay City.

Seized from Sinogat’s house were a caliber .45 pistol, a homemade shotgun and assorted magazines and ammunition.

The four other suspects – Felix Abacahan Sr. and his son Felix Abacahan Jr., Susano Labrador and Florencio Labrador – were rounded up in simultaneous operations.

The elder Abacahan yielded magazines for a caliber .45 pistol and bullets for a .22 magnum revolver, while seized from his son were a .357 revolver, several bullets and two caliber .22 rifles.

Found in Susano’s house were a caliber .45 pistol and several bullets, and in Florencio’s a carbine rifle, a homemade shotgun and several rounds of ammunition.

Director Raul Castañeda, CIDG chief, said the suspects were arrested after two weeks of surveillance as part of “Comprehensive Plan Abacahan” that was put up to go after killers of judges, prosecutors and lawyers.

Last April 16, police filed charges against another suspect, Lyndon Horandoy.

The 36-year-old Osorio was cruising Maria Gochan street in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City on board his Toyota Revo when he was waylaid by two motorcycle-riding gunmen wearing full helmets last Jan. 6. Osorio died in a hospital the next day.