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Mauled buko vendor, 2 brothers arrested over 2007 murder case
The buko vendor mauled by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personnel during a clearing operation was arrested on Tuesday along with his two brothers over a 2007 murder case.
Romnick Relos, 29, and his two brothers identified as Roy, 32 and Dondon, 34, were nabbed by authorities of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in separate operations.
Romnick was arrested while he was being interviewed on television. Dondon, on the other hand, was nabbed in his house near Villamor Air Base while Roy was nabbed when he was selling buko in Maricaban, Pasay City. They were all brought to the CIDG Headquarters in Camp Crame.
The Relos brothers who are all working as buko vendors were allegedly involved in the killing of Junie Olete on March 25, 2007 in Aroroy, Masbate. The suspects forcibly entered the house of Olete and attacked and hacked the victim.
CIDG chief Director Roel Obusan said that they were prompted to arrest the suspects after Romnick was seen on television reports.
“Nung nakita siya sa interview sa TV regarding sa buko vendor MMDA incident, napakadaming dumulog sa amin na kailangan mahuli dahil matagal na 'tong nagtatago,” he said.
“Pinag-isipan naming maigi kung siya ay huhulihin na ngayon o hindi muna dahil sa agam-agam na baka isipin ng tao na porket napa-trouble siya sa MMDA, hinuhuli ng CIDG,” he added.
For his part, MMDA chairman Danilo Lim told reporters: “‘Yung isang kapitbahay nila, pinag tulong-tulungan nilang pinagtataga... sa harap ng asawa na si Evelyn ... pinag tulong-tulungan ng tatlo pinagtataga.”
It was only the following year when a warrant of arrest against them was issued.
“Nilitis ‘yan. Wala sila, nagtago. Lumabas yun warrant ng January 25, 2008. Nag-viral kasi marami nakakakilala hanggang sa nakarating info sa atin at nakarating ang info sa CIDG,” Lim said.
LOOK: Arrest warrant against Relos brothers | via @marllybondoc pic.twitter.com/75dgOKszBf
— GMA News (@gmanews) March 6, 2018
CIDG operative Senior Police Office 4 Demetrio Magpali Jr. said they were able to arrest Romnick’s brothers with the help of the MMDA who gave them leads.
“... Dahil sa MMDA nakuha namin address kaya na follow-up namin sa baranggay. Nakipag-coordinate kami sa barangay doon, tinuro sa amin ang bahay nagpanggap kami mag-iimbestiga kami,” Magpali said.
‘Self-defense’
Roy said they only defended their selves but did not elaborate on what transpired during the incident. Dondon, meanwhile, insisted that his brother Romnick was not involved in the incident.
“Hindi ‘yan (Romnick) kasama, siya lang umawat pero hindi siya nag-ano,” Dondon said. Dondon had also denied that they came to Manila to escape the murder case against them.
“Hindi naman, nagpunta lang kami dito para magtrabaho,” he said.
Romnick, however, admitted that he had a participation in the killing of Olete.
“Pare-parehas kami ng kasalanan,” he said.
Asked on whether he had any regrets, Romnick said: “Mas okay na rin 'yon para mabayaran namin 'yung mga kasalanan namin.”
Obusan, for his part, said that they have not yet investigated the direct participation of Romnick in the murder case.
Romnick was earlier caught on camera being mauled by three MMDA officers. He said that the team tried to take his cart and coconuts away after he refused to leave his spot.
He suffered a contusion in his right eye due to the beating he received from the members of the MMDA sidewalk clearing operations team who have all been placed under preventive suspension. — RSJ, GMA News
