Police arrest suspect in shooting of call center agent

CEBU, Philippines - Police arrested the man who reportedly shot a call center agent dead last week in Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City.

Two eyewitnesses pointed to suspect 28-year-old Peter John Taborada, alias Pedro, as the one who shot and killed Jovanni De Jesus, 30, while the victim was fighting with a woman who tried to steal his bag last Thursday dawn.

Taborada was arrested in a joint hot pursuit operation conducted by the City Intelligence Branch and Theft and Robbery Section in sitio Bangkal, Barangay Guadalupe at 9 p.m. last Monday.

Unlicensed calibers .357 revolver and .45 pistol were seized from the suspect.

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, chief of CIB, said Taborada was in cahoots with suspects Christian Saballa, 18, and the latter’s live-in partner Pretty Rose Moneva in last Thursday’s incident.

Witnesses pointed at Moneva who is three months pregnant as the one who grabbed the bag of De Jesus, a call center agent of JP Morgan, while the victim was walking for home.

De Jesus fought Moneva for his bag and was shot dead by Taborada. Moneva then got on a Kawasaki Fury motorcycle with licenses plates 6331 XW which was driven by Saballa.

Taborada, when sought for comment, vehemently denied any participation in the crime although he admitted he knows Saballa and Moneva since they are neighbors in Barangay Guadalupe.

During the tactical interrogation, though, Santander said Taborada admitted shooting De Jesus and being responsible in a number of previous robbery-shooting incidents in the city.

“Noted na g’yud na siya nga tulisan unya kung di ihatag, iyang patyon ang biktima,” said Santander, saying that a number of cases are now solved with the suspect’s arrest.

The CIB chief further told The Freeman that Taborada’s arrest stemmed from the information they got from Saballa and Moneva. Police are still looking for the suspects’ other companions since they operate in a group, Santander further revealed.

Saballa and Moneva were arrested last Saturday after they grabbed the shoulder bag of Mary Ann Requirme, 22, while walking along Modesta Street in Barangay Guadalupe.

The couple tried to escape on a motorcycle but was eventually cornered by barangay tanods. — (FREEMAN)