Suspect in slay of ABS-CBN man falls

A man who had been in hiding for more than two years for the killing of a TV network’s cameraman was arrested on Sunday afternoon.

Policemen from the Novaliches station picked up Benjie Bate, 31, in front of his house in Barangay (village) Sauyo, Quezon City, at 2 p.m.

Quezon City Police District director Senior Supt. Richard Albano said Bate, a laborer, had long been sought for the death of Juan Torregoza.

The 37-year-old Torregoza was an assistant cameraman of television network ABS-CBN when he was gunned down on Dec. 19, 2010, on Panganiban Street in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Novaliches.

Witnesses said that the victim was trying to break up a scuffle between the suspects and several residents when Bate shot him.

Supt. Virgilio Fabian, Novaliches police station commander, said they were checking reports that the Iloilo-born Bate was a gun-for-hire.

After a murder charge was filed against Bate in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 85, Judge Filomena Singh issued a warrant for his arrest without bail.

This prompted the suspect to go into hiding. He left his home in Barangay Sauyo, Quezon City, and reportedly fled to Iloilo province. Recently, however, the police received reports that he had been spotted in his old neighborhood in Quezon City.

A team was sent to verify the reports. They later served the arrest warrant on Bate who was caught right in front of his house.

According to the Novaliches police station chief, he received reports last March 24 that a man armed with a rifle was seen drinking liquor with three other men in the area.

Upon verification, the man turned out to be Bate, prompting police operatives to monitor his movements, later leading to his arrest, Fabian said.

He added that Bate was being linked to the killing of another Quezon City policeman known only as SPO4 Nazareno.

The policeman was killed in 2001, Fabian said.—Julie M. Aurelio