Suspect in Talisay cop’s slay falls

Police arrested a man tagged as one of the suspects in the March 11 killing of a policeman in Talisay City.

Noel Simbajon, alias Noel Pacana, 29, was arrested at a checkpoint last Wednesday night in Tangub City, Misamis Oriental.

Regional Trial Court Judge Gilbert Moises of Branch 18 in Cebu City issued a warrant of arrest for Simbajon, who was brought to Talisay yesterday.

Simbajon denied involvement in the killing of PO1 William Mangubat. He pointed to brothers Jundee and Lito Oros as the ones who shot dead the field training policeman.

Both brothers remain at large.

Mangubat was shot dead while chasing a robbery suspect in sitio Mananga II, barangay Talisay.

“We were together in a robbery but I ran when the policeman collared one of the Oros. There were several people who saw the incident,” Simbajon said in Cebuano.

Simbajon said he fled to Mindanao after he learned that the police issued a shoot-to-kill order against him.

Chief Insp. Eddie Recamara, officer in charge (OIC) of Talisay police, said an intelligence report revealed that Simbajon was hiding in Tangub.

Simbajon did not resist arrest.

Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, director of Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), said the case is considered solved with the arrest of Simbajon and that a commendation will be given to the Talisay police.

Talisay City Vice Mayor Allan Bucao said he would consult Recamara and Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez on whom to give the P100,000 cash that the city  has set aside as a reward to those who could help arrest the suspects.

Simbajon’s mother Conchita also met with Bucao yesterday to seek assurance of her son’s safety at the hands of the police.

Conchita described Noel as a good son who was only forced to engage in illegal activities due to poverty.

Conchita said Noel’s eldest son died of leukemia and that she’s the one taking care of his other 9-year-old son.