Ambush suspect faces firearms, murder charges
CHARGES of illegal possession of firearms and explosives were filed against the suspect in the ambush of a lawyer’s wife and her companions at the Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday.
Supt. Eddie Recamara, Talisay City police chief, said the charges were filed against 39-year-old Tommy Echavez who remains confined at the operation room (OR) of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).
Recamara said police will file multiple murder charges once they secure a copy of the death certificate of Virginia Sesbreño.
Echavez was shot after he resisted arrest in barangay Lawaan III, Talisay City, last Sunday.
He was identified by witnesses as the gunman in the Feb. 1 ambush of Sesbreño and her two companions Soledad Epanto and Marlon Joshua Young who were riding an Isuzu pickup in barangay Kimba Cansojong, Talisay City.
Recovered from Echavez were one .45 pistol, one magazine, a hand grenade, two cell phones and a wallet.
Virginia was the wife of lawyer Raul Sesbreño, who is embroiled in a lot dispute case with illegal settlers in Talisay City.
Talisay City Prosecutor Marshall Rubia said he may file the charges against Echavez in court if he won’t be able to attend inquest proceedings.
If Echavez decides to undergo a preliminary investigation, Rubia said he will be given a week to file his counter-affidavit to refute the allegations. Otherwise, the case will be filed in court.
In a separate phone interview, SPO1 Mikie Espina of the Talisay City police precinct said Echavez’ background check revealed that he used several aliases like Tomas Cariño.
Raul Sesbreño said he hoped Echavez would reveal who the mastermind is so he can file a case against him.
“I asked the police and the National Bureau of Investigation to catch the driver and recover the motorcycle used in the ambush,” Raul told Cebu Daily News. Rhea Ruth V. Rosell, Correspondent with Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol
