Man in Valenzuela City arrested 25 years after employer's killing

A man was arrested in Valenzuela City on Wednesday after hiding for over two decades following the killing of his employer in 2001.

According to Gabriel Gonzales’ exclusive report in “24 Oras” on Thursday, authorities served a warrant of arrest in a house on Bypass Road in Barangay Bignay.

The police said the accused had been on the run for nearly 25 years.

“Ni-revive ng court natin so last month nag-issue sila ng warrant of arrest. June 23 nagsimula na yung surveillance namin doon sa address na nakalagay kung saan nahuli yung isa sa mga suspects, kaya namin natunton yung suspek namin ngayon sa murder incident noong 2001,” said San Jose del Monte Police chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Reyson Bagain.

(The court revived the case, so last month they issued a warrant of arrest. Our surveillance began on June 23 at the listed address where one of the suspects was previously caught, which is how we tracked down our current suspect in the 2001 murder incident.)

The police said the accused and his child used to source binatog from the victim, who was a local businessman.

Investigators revealed that the crime stemmed from a simple neighborhood dispute. The victim, who was 44 years old at the time, reportedly confronted the suspect and three others over suspicions that they were responsible for killing his dog.

The victim allegedly went directly to the suspect's house to confront him, leading to an altercation that ultimately escalated into a stabbing.

“Noong paalis na yung victim natin during the confrontation, pagtalikod niya, ayun hinabol ng mga suspects ng stab,” said Bagain.

(When our victim was about to leave during the confrontation, as soon as his back was turned, the suspects chased him down and stabbed him.)

The suspect said he committed the crime in defense of his child, who was reportedly targeted first by the victim's outburst.

“Hindi ko na po siya sana papatulan, kaso pumunta po siya sa bahay namin, naghahamon at nambato. Bigla po akong pinormahan ng karate, eh may dala ako, Sir. Binunutan ko na ho,” he claimed.

(I wouldn't have fought back, but he went to our house, issuing challenges and throwing rocks. He suddenly took a karate stance against me, and since I was carrying a weapon, Sir, I drew it on him.)

Meanwhile, the widow of the victim felt a sigh of relief following the suspect’s arrest.

“Sobrang hirap namin noon, Sir. Kasi malilit pa yung mga anak ko, nag-aaral pa sila. Ngayon, naaresto na po yung suspek, makakamit na namin yung hustisya,” she said.

(It was incredibly difficult for us back then, Sir. Because my children were still very small and in school. Now that the suspect has been arrested, we will finally get justice.)

The accused is currently detained at the San Jose Del Monte Police Station and is facing a charge of
murder. The police are still hunting the two other subjects of the arrest warrant. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BM, GMA News