Quezon City Police District (QCPD) personnel on Thursday, Feb. 23, arrested the alleged mastermind and the gunman in a shooting incident that killed an Indian national in Barangay Batasan Hills in the city on Feb. 14.
Maj. Don Don Llapitan, QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) chief, identified the suspects as Randy Almares Manalo, 32, tagged as the mastermind in the shooting incident; and the gunman, Mark Darriel Janito Lagarde, 21, both from Quezon City.
The QCPD said the victim, Beant Singh, 47, was shot by Lagarde at the corner of Kagawad and San Mateo Roads, Brgy. Batasan Hills, Quezon City at around 2:30 p.m. of Feb. 14.
The victim was on board a motorcycle when the the suspect suddenly approached and fired at him several times.
He died on the spot while Legarde fled towards San Mateo Road.
Police said that closed circuit television (CCTV) footages revealed that at around 1:39 p.m. on the same day, the suspect rode an orange "Habal habal" motorcycle along Session Road, Brgy. Batasan Hills.
On Feb. 21, the same orange motorcycle was found in a "Habal habal" terminal along Maligaya Drive, Fairview Terraces, Brgy. Pasong Putik in the city. The driver of the vehicle told the police that he brought Lagarde to Brgy. Batasan Hills.
The operatives also received information that the suspect is a resident of Barangay Pasong Putik, Quezon City.
Joint operatives of CIDU and Batasan Station (PS 6), led by Lt. Col. Morgan Aguilar, conducted a manhunt operation and arrested Lagarde at about 2:45 p.m. on Feb. 23, along Bougainvilla St.
Legarde admitted his participation in the killing and revealed that Manalo is the mastermind of the crime.
The cops immediately conducted a follow-up operation and collared Manalo in Talanay, Batasan Hills, Quezon City at around 3:30 p.m. on the same day.
Authorities seized one caliber .380 firearm from Legarde. A hand grenade placed in a sling bag was also recovered from Manalo.
The suspects will be charged for murder, police said.
Manalo will also be charged for violation of Republic Act 9516 (Illegal Possession of Explosives).
Additional charges for violation of R.A. 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) will be filed against Lagarde.