Councilor slay suspect yields

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  - The police has arrested the suspected killer of a councilor in Negros Occidental town, reportedly after he surrendered to the CIDG operatives in Kabankalan City Tuesday afternoon.

The suspect, 24-year-old Ryan Gatoc of Kabankalan City will be charged for murder of Ilog town councilor Antonio Gequillana Jr. last July 27.

Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, director of the Bacolod City Police Office, said, "The suspect is still undergoing thorough investigation. We're now in the process of completing the documents for the filing of murder charges against (him). Definitely, we will file the murder case this week."

Gatoc was arrested a day after Gequillana was laid to rest at the Bacolod Memorial Park. He is now in the custody of the CIDG, a member of the Task Force Gequillana. 

Gatoc has denied the murder but De la Paz said despite the suspect's denial of involvement in the incident, the police was certain he was the gunman, based on the testimonies of several witnesses.

De la Paz also clarified reports that Gatoc was not arrested by Task Force Gequillana, but instead surrendered to the CIDG operatives.

De la Paz, however, said the police do not have evidence yet that could link to a certain person as the mastermind of Gequillana's murder.

The police was aware of reports that Gatoc was once a bodyguard of Ilog Mayor Paul Alvarez, but they haven't found any evidence connecting the official to the case, said de la Paz. 

Gequillana, 40, the number three councilor of Ilog town in southern Negros, also has a residence at Eroreco Subd. in Brgy. Mandalagan here. He was gunned down at the parking area of East View Hotel here at around 10:20 a.m. on July 27.

Police said Gequillana sustained five gunshot wounds. He was brought to The Doctors' Hospital, but he was declared dead at around 11 a.m. (FREEMAN)