Police identify suspects in Del Castillo killing
The police have already identified one of the assailants of Provincial Fire Marshal Supt. Casiano del Castillo. Murder charges are expected to be filed against the suspect and his cohorts within the week.
Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) Director Senior Supt. Bartolome Tobias said a witness has identified one of the suspects through the picture that was shown to him.
Police gathered that there are three suspects in Del Castillo's killing, one served as driver of the get-away motorcycle, one served as the triggerman and the other one served as a lookout.
Tobias, however, refused to reveal the names of their suspects in order not to jeopardize their operation.
Tobias also made no confirmation on whether the suspect is a member of a gun for hire group or Sparrow Unit of the New Peoples Army (NPA).
Days before Del Castillo's killing intelligence information came out that several members of the urban hit squad Sparrow Unit were spotted in Arevalo district.
Normally, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing the NPA make a public statement when they have something to do with the killing. Until now, they have not issued any statement.
In a telephone interview, Tobias refused give more details about the suspects pending the filing of the official complaint before the Iloilo City Prosecutors Office.
"Let's wait until the case is filed and the court to issue warrants for their (suspects) arrest," said Tobias.
Del Castillo was peppered with bullets by one of the two motorcycle-riding men while on his way home around 5 p.m. last Friday, August 22. Witnesses have seen the faces of the assailants as they wore no covers on their faces when they shot the fire official.
Tobias said the suspect which was positively identified by a witness has no previous criminal records. Though, there are information that the suspect is involved in the series of robbery cases outside Iloilo City.
The city director added they are checking the possible connection between Del Castillo's assailants and that of Eddie Pedrajas who was also shot the other week. One of the suspects in Pedrajas killing was reportedly seen along with the suspects who perpetrated the killing of Del Castillo.
Police could not categorically say whether the killers of Del Castillo and of Pedrajas belong to the same group. It might only be a coincidence or they have a link when witnesses saw them at the crime scene. Investigators are still verifying the information relative to Del Castillo's murder, said Tobias.
Pedrajas was also killed by two motorcycle-riding men in Jaro. Police have identified three suspects who perpetrated the killing. The victim was reportedly mistaken as one of the city's big time drug lords.
Investigators are closely validating all the information necessary to solve Del Castillo's murder. The police is doing its best to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in the future, said Tobias.
The city director admitted that they received information on the presence of "armed men" in the city. "Plain clothed and uniformed policemen are monitoring them but they slipped the attention of our operatives," Tobias said.
Earlier, Mayor Jerry Treñas challenged Tobias to solve the murder of Del Castillo. The chief executive had a meeting with Tobias Tuesday afternoon at the Iloilo City Hall.
In the same meeting, Treñas directed Tobias to solve Del Castillo's murder and neutralize the operation of a gun for hire group taking orders in exchange of money. They have to identify the personalities behind the group and bring the suspects to the full force of the law, said Treñas.