Payatas slay suspect finally falls

Operatives from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) have arrested a suspect in the killing of a woman whose body was discovered at the Payatas dump site last week.

Police identified the suspect as alias “Felimon,” a resident of Barangay Payatas, Quezon City.

QCPD acting director, P/Col. Randy Glenn Silvio, said the suspect was apprehended around 8 p.m. on Friday in Barangay Langkiwa, San Antonio Subdivision, Biñan City, Laguna.

The arrest followed a manhunt operation by the QCPD Payatas Bagong Silangan Police Station (PS 13), led by P/Lt. Col. Rolando Baula, after a tipster identified the suspect as the perpetrator.

Further investigation revealed that the suspect was the No. 2 Most Wanted Person of PS 13 for a homicide case issued by Branch 43 of the Regional Trial Court in Tacloban City.

At the time of his arrest, the suspect was carrying an improvised firearm loaded with one 5.56mm (M-16) bullet tucked in his waist. Police also found four more live bullets in his pocket during a frisking.

A record check through the Investigation Solution Automatic Verification system indicated that the suspect is also facing a murder charge from 2018.

In addition to a new murder charge, the suspect will also face charges for violating Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition) and Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 (Omnibus Election Code) in relation to Commission on Elections Resolution No. 11067.

“We will not hesitate to pursue and arrest anyone responsible for heinous crimes. The arrest of alias ‘Felimon’ is proof of the QCPD’s continued determination to hold those who violate the law accountable,” Silvio said.