Alleged driver of getaway vehicle falls

CEBU, Philippines - Police have arrested one of the suspects in the killing of a manager of a furniture shop in Mandaue City last Friday.

David Llanto, 35, a resident of Sitio Baybayon, Barangay Mantuyong was arrested at his residence past 5 p.m. Saturday following a hot pursuit. Witnesses have identified him as the one who drove the getaway vehicle so the gunman, identified only as a certain “Ongod”, could flee the crime scene.

Arresting officers from the Investigation and Detection Management Branch of the Mandaue City Police Office led by Sr. Insp. Jimmy Portes also recovered a .38 caliber revolver with five ammunition from Llanto during the arrest.

The victim, Imelda Tio Yu, was shot while on board a motorcycle-for-hire after she bought vegetables from a satellite market near the Maguikay flyover.

SPO3 Marcos Noval Jr. of IDMB said witness also saw Llanto with the gunman at the time of the incident. The two were reportedly seen frequenting the area prior to the shooting, most likely to study Yu’s movements.

Noval said Llanto’s firearm will be subjected to a ballistics examination to determine if it was the one used in shooting Yu. A background check will also be conducted on both suspects.

Police believe the suspects were hired killers.

Llanto denied all allegations and reportedly refused to tell authorities Ongod’s whereabouts.

Yu passed away an hour after she was rushed to the Mandaue City Hospital. The bullet that hit her on the chest exited her waist and even hit the driver of the motorcycle-for-hire, Roger Calumba. A second shot hit a certain Arnel Juanite on the left knee.   

Calumba and Juanite are now recuperating at the Vicente Sotto Medical Center.

Yu is the daughter of the owner of the furniture chain but police said she lived a simple life and going to the market to get supplies before heading home had been her routine.  (FREEMAN)