A taxi driver was arrested for the killing of a 79-year-old woman who went missing in Quezon City last Jan. 14, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) announced in a press conference on Monday, Feb. 13.

The QCPD Criminal Investigation Unit (CIDU) identified the suspect as Mark Anthony Valera Cosio alias “Macmac,” 41, a resident of Brgy. Talipapa, Quezon City.

The skeletal remains of victim Edilbertha Borruel Gomez, a resident of Brgy. Pinyahan, Quezon City, were recovered in Tanay, Rizal last Saturday, Feb. 11.

The QCPD said the victim was identified by her relatives through her clothing, footwear, and scapular.

QCPD director Brig. Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III said Cosio was also tagged in the killing of Maria Cristina Capistrano, 40, whose remains were retrieved by authorities in Mexico, Pampanga last Jan. 29.

Torre III said Cosio was initially arrested in Brgy. Sauyo, Quezon City on Friday, Feb. 3, at about 10:30 a.m. for illegal possession of explosives with no bail recommended.

He said that while under police custody, Cosio admitted that he was also involved in the disappearance of Gomez and Capistrano.

Cosio named his cohorts as Rolando Picana alias “Lanlan”, who is still at large, and brothers Keith and Jimbo Robosa who are already under the custody of QCPD Project 4 PS for alleged robbery in a gasoline station on Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City.

Based on the investigation, Gomez left her house at about 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 14 to fetch her relatives in Mayon St., Quezon, City.

She boarded a taxicab driven by Cosio.

With the help of recovered closed-circuit television’s (CCTV) footage, police were able to track down the plate number and owner of the taxi.

In an interview with the media, the suspect said he was just renting the taxicab for a living.

He said that after the victim boarded the taxi, they were tailed by his three cohorts who were riding a car.

“Noong araw po na iyon nagmamaneho po ako, naghahanap po ako ng pasahero. Nakasunod po sa akin ‘yung mga kasamahan ko na nakasakay sa Vios (That day I was driving and was looking for a passenger. My colleagues on board a Vios followed me),” Cosio narrated.

“Tapos po nang maisakay ko po si lola, malapit na siya sa babaan niya, agad na lang po kinuha ng mga kasamahan ko sa likod kasi nakita ko po doon sa rear mirror. Tapos nang makuha, sumunod na po ako sa kanila (I got her on board, and when she was about to reach her destination, my colleagues immediately took her. Then I followed them),” he added.

He said he followed his cohorts to Tanay, Rizal, where they pushed the victim out of the car and shot her in the head, and gave him P5,000 afterward.

"Nagiipon po kasi ako ng pera para sa panganganak ng asawa ko," he said (I am saving money for my wife's childbirth)" he said.

"Sila po ang mga nagtuturo sa amin, mga kasamahan ko, natatakot lang din po ako kasi mga may baril po mga tao na iyon (They are the ones who teach us, my colleagues, I was just scared because those people have guns)," he noted.

He added that they do not target the elderly and that they do not have any target victims.

"Wala naman po pinipili, kung sino lang po maisakay, siya po yung nakita namin noong araw na iyon (We don't choose victims, just whoever rides, she was the one we saw that day)," he added.

Torre III said all four suspects had previous cases of violation of Republic Act 9165 (The Comprehension Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.

The QCPD said the fiscal is currently assessing the cases that will be filed against Cosio and the Robosa brothers.