Suspect in Zambo judge’s killing arrested

MANILA, Philippines—The suspect in the killing of a Zamboanga judge has been arrested in Davao Oriental as a former judge had emerged as a “person of interest” in the case, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Wednesday (Sept 4).

Ferdinand Lavin, NBI spokesperson, said Juliver Cabating was arrested on Sept. 2.

Cabating and two other suspects in the judge’s killing, known only as Jerry and Ramil, have been charged, according to Antonio Pagatpat, deputy NBI director for regional operations service.

Judge Reymar Lacaya, of the Zamboanga RTC Branch 28, was shot twice in the face while inside court premises last May 9.

Witnesses and security camera footage were used to pin the location of Cabating and the two other suspects shortly before the judge’s killing.

They were seen at a restaurant with “something bulging” in their waists, presumably guns.

After eating at the restaurant, the three suspects were seen heading for the RTC. Minutes after, they were seen fleeing aboard a motorcycle.

The arrest of Cabating, according to Pagatpat showed that coordination among government agencies is “vital in the fight against criminality.”

At a press conference, Lavin said the NBI was considering former Judge Oscar Tomarong as a person of interest in the killing of Lacaya.

Tomarong became a person of interest after it was found that Cabating was driver and errand boy of Tomarong. Cabating’s wife had told investigators that Lacaya once told her that Tomarong “would be mad” at Lacaya because of work. No details were given.

“We consider Judge Oscar Tomarong as a person of interest in this case, we are seriously looking at his involvement,” Lavin said.

Lavin said Tomarong was a former NBI agent who had been assigned to the anti-graft division prior to his appointment as a judge which made it “a very tough decision for the NBI” to tag Tomarong as a person of interest. “But we have to do this,” Lavin said.

Cabating is now in NBI custody./TSB