Hired killers nabbed for minor violation

Two motorcycle riders flagged down by the police for not wearing helmets at dawn of Tuesday turned out to be hired assassins believed to be behind several drug-related killings in Manila.

Danilo Cesista, 33, a resident of Port Area, and Ferdinand Aquino, 23, of Parola Compound, were presented Tuesay afternoon to Manila Police District director Chief Supt. Isagani Genabe.

Senior Insp. John Guiagui of the Delpan police community precinct said his team was conducting Oplan Sita as part of their anticriminality campaign when they flagged down the two men around 5 a.m. at Gate 7 of Parola Compound in Tondo, Manila, for not wearing motorcycle helmets. When frisked, the two yielded bullets and what was believed to be methamphetamine hydrochloride, or “shabu.”

During questioning, they confessed that Norbie Sambulan, also known as Sanaya and a suspected drug syndicate leader, had hired them to kill a certain Willie for failing to remit drug money. Police said the two were also suspects in several killings involving rival drug pushers in Parola Compound.—Erika Sauler