ARREST. Police Regional Office (PRO4A)-Calabarzon Director, Chief Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar (center), presents the two arrested suspects in the murder of Sariaya Councilor Aristeo Manalo Ilao during a media conference at the police camp’s regional headquarters in Camp Gen. Vicente Lim, Calamba City on Friday (May 11) (Photo courtesy of PRO4A)
CAMP GENERAL VICENTE LIM, Calamba City – Police in Sariaya, Quezon have arrested two suspects in the killing of Sariaya town councilor on Thursday.
Police Regional Office (PRO4A)-Calabarzon Regional Director Police Chief Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar presented suspects Ramil Gesmundo and his brother Reynaldo, both brothers-in-law of victim Sariaya Councilor Aristeo Manalo Ilao during a press briefing at this camp's multi-purpose center Friday.
In his report to Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar D. Albayalde, Eleazar said the two suspects were arrested few hours after the town councilor was gunned down Thursday morning at Sitio Manalo, Barangay Sampaloc in Sariaya, Quezon.
“Personal grudge was established as the motive in the murder of Mr. Aristeo Ilao, where according to the prime suspect Ramil, he was being promised money and assistance by the victim but failed to do so,” said Eleazar.
Eleazar ordered the Sariaya Police Station to conduct in-depth investigation following the revelations of the prime suspect that he was being hired (gun-for-hire) by the victim to kill certain individuals as he recalled having killied two individuals in 2013.
"This confession by the suspect will be verified and investigated so that if ever proven true we could also give justice to other victims," Eleazar added.
“I am commending the entire force of Sariaya Police Station, headed by their Provincial Director, Police Senior Supt. Osmundo V. De Guzman, together with the Regional Intelligence Unit 4A and Regional Intelligence Division 4A for the fast resolve of the case,” he said.
According to Eleazar, the Gesmundo brothers were arrested during follow-up operations by the joint elements of the Sariaya Police Station, led by Police Chief Inspector John Eric Antonio, Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) 4A and Regional Intelligence Division (RID), led by the overall team leader Police Supt. Rafael Torres, officer-in-charge of the Sariaya Police Station.
He told media that the suspects repeatedly shot the victim inside his house and initially reported that they fled onboard a yellow/black motorcycle of unknown type and headed towards Maharlika Highway.
He said their follow-up investigations included evidence based on CCTV footages which also initially revealed the suspects fled on foot after committing the crime.
Other evidence recovered were clothes such as the black t-shirt and denim pants which were stained with blood worn by prime suspect Ramil Gesmundo.
The pieces of evidence are now under custody of the Quezon Provincial Crime Lab Office in Lucena City for DNA comparison as the murder case against the two suspects filed by the Sariaya municipal police station.
“I am appealing to the public to be vigilant and to report to the proper authorities any suspicious persons or activities in their neighborhood so that we could promptly take action and prevent any untoward incidents," the Calabarzon police regional director urged. (Robert Maico/PNA)
