LEGAZPI CITY (Sept 24, 2012) – Vice President Jejomar Binay personally assured the family of slain Makati City engineer and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) provincial chairman Nelson B. Morales, 55, that the perpetrators of his brutal killing will be brought to justice as the police manhunt in Albay province intensified hunt for the suspects.
Morales, who was laid to rest in his home town Malinao, Albay last week, was gunned-down by six suspected hired killers who took turns shooting the victim who was standing as a sponsor of a wedding at St. Nicolas Parish Church in Estancia, Malinao town last September 7.
Malinao Vice-Mayor Alice Morales, the sister of the slain UNA leader told local newsmen in Albay that Binay personally directed Albay Police director, Senior Supt. Ruben Sodsod, this week to intensify the manhunt for the 5 suspects who were already identified by witnesses in a police rogue gallery.
According to Albay deputy provincial director, Police Supt. Paulino Belga, the police had arrested Roderick Saysay Sarahan, 37, at barangay Molosbulos in Libon, Albay. Belga is one among the suspects and tested positive for powder burns when a paraffin test was conducted by Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory in Camp Gen. Simoen Ola, .
Another suspect, Christian Saysay, 22 was earlier found dead and appeared to have been killed by a gunshot wound in his abdomen when examined at the Josefina Belmonte Memorial District Hospital in Ligao City.
Five more suspects who are now objects of the police manhunt were identified as: brothers Gilbert and Ramon Concepcion, both former army soldiers who were dishonourably discharged for involvement in criminal activities and suspected Concepcion gang members Wilfredo Sasota and certain Peter and Allan “Doe.” (SONNY SALES)