Suspect in slay of Mandaue mayor’s relative nabbed

One of the two suspects in the murder of a cousin of Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes was arrested in Bukidnon province on Monday.

Joselito Japuz, 30, was having a drinking session in his aunt’s house in barangay Sta. Cruz, Bukidnon when he was arrested by a Mandaue City police team led by Senior Insp. Jimmy Fortes.

Japuz, who used to live in barangay Labogon, Mandaue City, was one of the three suspects in the killing of lawyer Santos Anthony Oraiz Cortes, who was shot dead at the parking lot of Fatima Church in barangay Basak, Mandaue last May 2, 2009.

The alleged triggerman, Albert Sevilleno, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in 2009. He was charged with murder.

Police said the victim was walking to the parking lot when he was gunned down. The assailants fled on foot.

The arrest of Japuz came after Bukidnon police contacted the Mandaue City police to check on his background.

Mandaue City police immediately went to Bukidnon with a warrant of arrest issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Ulric Canete of Branch 55.

Japuz denied involvement in the killing and instead pinned down Sevilleno.

He said he was in a basketball court when Sevilleno called him and asked to go with him.

Japuz said he went into hiding after learning that police were looking for him for the lawyer’s death.  /CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA