Cops arrest two gunmen for murder of Laoag City lawyer

By FREDDIE LAZARO

LAOAG CITY – Ilocos Region police director Chief Supt. Leopoldo N. Bataoil presented to media suspected members of a gun-for-hire syndicate who, he said, were responsible for the killing of lawyer Jose Antonio "Pepoc" Pastor, 49, inside his office in Barangay 7-A, here last December.

The suspects were arrested in separate operations conducted by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and other police units in the Ilocos Region.

Senior Supt. Marvin Bolabola said the arrested suspects belonged to the Ravena gun-for-hire group allegedly headed by Petronilo Ravena.

Ravena and another member identified as Efren Alagao, were arrested in the operations conducted by the police. Another suspect, Mark Taylan, is still at large.

Members of the group were also tagged as suspects in various killings in the region.

"The leader of the group, Ravena, was arrested in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur; his henchman, Efren Alagao – who was identified by witnesses as the triggerman in the killing of Attorney Pastor, was arrested in Abra," Bolabola said.

Taylan, the alleged lookout during the killing, is now the subject of a manhunt, Bolabola said.
Pastor, legal officer of the city government of Laoag and resident of Gomburza St., Barangay 8, Laoag, was declared dead on arrival at the Governor Roque B. Ablan Memorial Hospital after he was shot in the head and back inside his office.

Assisting Bataoil in the presentation of the two suspects to the media were Bolabola and Ilocos Norte police director Senior Supt. Roman Felix.

Bataoil said the arrest of the suspects came as a result of cooperation of different police units and civilians.

"We would like to reiterate that our policemen always leave no stone unturned in any crime that happens in the region. We always do our best as we can to solve these misdeeds and to give justice to the families of the victims," Bataoil said.