Suspect in 2008 killing nabbed after 16 years in hiding

A suspect in a 2008 killing has been arrested after having evaded law enforcement for 16 years.

According to a 24 Oras report by John Consulta on Wednesday, operatives of the PNP-Northern Police District were able to arrest the 31-year-old suspect in Norzagaray, Bulacan.

“Napakahirap ng pagtunton sa suspek na ito para mahuli siya [matapos ang] almost 16 years. The incident happened in 2008, at simula noon nagtago na sa iba’t ibang lalawigan: sa Lian, Batangas; sa Nasugbu; then finally sa Norzagaray, Bulacan kung saan siya nahuli,” said NPD District Director Police Brigadier General Rizalito Gapas.

(It was so hard to locate the suspect to arrest him [after] almost 16 years. The incident happened in 2008 and he started hiding in different areas since then, such as Lian, Batangas, Nasugbu and finally Norzagaray, Bulacan where he was arrested)

NPD said that the case was rooted in a misunderstanding between the suspect and the victim.

“Ito po’y nagmula sa isang away na paghihinala sa nawawalang cellphone. Dahil dito, nagkaroon sila ng altercation [kung saan] inumpog ng suspek ang biktim na naging sanhi ng internal hemorrhage at pagkamatay,” said Gapas.

(This started with an argument regarding accusations over a missing cellphone. Because of this, they had an altercation [wherein] the suspect slammed the victim’s head and caused an internal hemorrhage that resulted in death.) — Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/BM, GMA Integrated News