INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) arrested the suspected gunman and the mastermind behind the shooting of an employee of the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB).
Based on a QCPD police report obtained from the National Capital Region Police Office, the gunman, identified as Marlon Nery, was arrested at his residence along Susano Road in Barangay San Agustin, Novaliches Quezon City at around 9:20 a.m on Monday.
The alleged mastermind, identified as Dexter Cruz, was then arrested the same day at 7:50 p.m.
Cruz, said the QCPD, is also an employee of the OMB.
It was also revealed that Cruz and Nery were friends since May 2018, said the QCPD.
According to the QCPD, the gunman was identified with the help of CCTV footage taken from barangays (villages) allowing authorities to track the escape route of the suspect up to his residence, where the QCPD arrested the suspect.
Upon his arrest, the QCPD said Nery made an “extrajudicial confession” where he confessed how the crime was planned and executed, admitting that it was Cruz who contracted him to kill the victim, Dianne Paguirigan, in return for the amount of P30,000.
The QCPD then immediately arrested Cruz in Central Avenue, QC Ville, Brgy. Culiat, Quezon City.
The QCPD said Cruz will be charged for Frustrated Murder, for Violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Law and RA 9516 or the Illegal Possession of Explosives before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.
To recall, Paguirigan, a 37-year-old administrative aide at the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices, was shot by a “Nery” at around 8:20 a.m at the corner of Quezon Avenue and Cordillera Street in Barangay Doña Josefa on Wednesday.
She was shot twice in her chest but managed to survive and is now currently being treated.