Gunman in slay of Japanese arrested

CABANATUAN CITY -- Police nabbed on March 23 one of the prime suspects, allegedly the gunman in the killing of a Japanese businessman at the boundary of Nueva Ecija and this city last March 5.

Police identified the suspect as Lauro Javier y Roxas, 36, married and resident of Purok 6, Bagong Sikat, Cabanatuan City.

He was linked to the killing of victim Junichi Itoh.

Senior Supt. Napoleon Taas, Nueva Ecija police provincial director, said Javier was nabbed at their hideout in Barangay Mabini, Homesite, Cabanatuan City after continuous operation by the Nueva Ecija and Cabanatuan police.

Itoh, 45, was shot by two unidentified robbers on March 5 in Barangay Macatbong, Caba­na­tuan City during an apparent robbery attempt.

Taas said one of the witnesses, Ramon Balintag, father-in-law of the victim, positively identified Javier during a confrontation on March 24.

“We have a number of witnesses, including Balintag, who positively pointed to Javier as the gunman of the Japanese national,” said Taas, adding that the suspect choose to remain silent on charges against him.

The arrest of Javier came after tricycle driver, Rosendo Garcia Jr., complained that the suspect held him up of his P500 earnings along Barangay Imelda.

A team headed by Supt. Ely Cruz, Cabanatuan City police chief, arrested Javier in Barangay Mabini Homesite.

Confiscated from Javier was a 9mm caliber pistol loaded with five live bullets, while his live-in partner, Jenny Alingasa, yielded assorted drug paraphernalia.

Cruz also confiscated from Javier’s possession one black Bajaj motorcycle, the same vehicle used in the killing of Itoh, along the rough road in the boundary of the city and Sta. Rosa town.

According to Taas, the description given by witnesses in the killing of Itoh, like body built and height, matched that of Javier.

He added they have a witness in custody who claimed he heard Javier and Alingasa boasting they played key roles in the killing of a foreign national in the city early this month.

Investigator PO2 Walter Pineda reported that the victim together with his wife, parents-in-law and some friends were on their way home from a swimming party when the incident took place on the night of March 5.

The victim was on board a tricycle when the scooter of their friends developed engine trouble prompting the group to alight from the vehicle to check.

It was at that juncture when two robbers approached the victim and tried to grab his belt bag containing his money and valuables. Police said the victim resisted prompting the robbers to shoot him.

Aside from homicide charges, police said Javier will also be charged with violation of R.A. 8294 or illegal possession of firearms and ammuni­tions and violation of RA 9165 or possession of drug paraphernalia.

The prosecutor recommended P100,000 bail for the suspect.

Taas said Javier was arrested by police after two weeks of manhunt operations.