Suspect in 2016 killing of Davao businessman nabbed in QC

After a year in hiding, the suspect in the killing of a Davao businessman whose body was found floating in a river in Compostela Valley was arrested by the police on Thursday.

The suspect was identified as Nolan Macasantos alias Nicco Santos, a freelance model, according to Senior Inspector Reydian Corales, operations chief of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Detective and Special Operations Unit.

Macasantos, who hails from Davao City but is currently residing in a condominium in Quezon City, is a subject of an arrest warrant issued by Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Regional Trial Court Presiding Judge Cresenciana Cruz on October 27 for the death of Florence "Indoi" Quico Quijada.

The suspect was allegedly a live-in and business partner of Quijada, who was engaged in buy-and-sell of cars and a financier of casino players.

“Mayaman [itong si Quijada], negosyante, nagpapautang sa players sa casino, at the same time, may buy-and-sell ng sasakyan,” Corales said in a press briefing Friday.

He said Quijada was reported missing on November 7 last year but was only found on November 10. He said the victim’s body bore no gunshot nor stab wound but his face was wrapped with plastic.

"Walang indikasyon na ginamitan ng weapon yung tao," Corales said. "Basta may tama sa ulo at nakita na lang iyon nung natanggal ang packing tape sa ulo niya. Possible na pinalo ng hard object."

He said Macasantos was arrested following a surveillance operation that was conducted after the police received the arrest warrant three weeks ago.

He said they arrested Macasantos around 5:45 a.m. on November 30 inside his condominium unit in Barangay Sto. Cristo.

Macasantos, who is detained at CIDG custodial facility, denied the allegation.

"Hindi ko magagawang pumatay, alam 'yan ng lahat ng tao kung gaano ako kabait," he said, adding he hid "because of my emotions that time, nabigla din ako because he is missing."

"Parang siyempre 'yung family ako ang sinasabing suspect. Once you are a suspect, guilty ka man o hindi, ide-detain ka. Once you are detained bubugbugin ka sa loob, that's why I'm terrified, that’s why I ran away,” Macasantos said.

He added that he was emotionally unstable at that time. He also denied that he and Quijada were live-in partners. "We are living in the same place pero in the same room? Hindi po," he said.

Macasantos also said he has no motive to kill Quijada. "If we are talking about P50,000 or P100,000, that’s not a reason to kill a person because ilang pera na rin ang dumaan sa amin, bakit ngayon pa?" he said.

Stressing that his conscience is clear, Macasantos said he is willing to cooperate with the police regarding the case. —KBK, GMA News