Suspect Roberto Apolto at the police headquarters. Photo courtesy of Justinne Punsalang / Radyo Inquirer
Operatives of the Caloocan City Police arrested on Thursday the city’s No. 4 top most wanted criminal barely after four years of eluding law enforcers.
The Caloocan Police announced the arrest of Roberto Apolto, who was working as a street parking attendant at the Manila Traffic Parking Bureau.
Supt. Jemar Modequillo, Caloocan City police chief, said that Apolto was arrested based on an arrest warrant for the killing of a minor following a heated argument back in 2014.
Modequillo said Apolto had been under surveillance since Nov. 2017 after getting reports that he was working at the city hall of Manila.
Arresting policemen said the suspect did not resist arrest when shown of the warrant. He was listed in Caloocan as the No. 4 most wanted.
“Wala namang punto na nanglaban siya (There was no resistance), actually he submitted himself naman peacefully,” Modequillo said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990 AM.
Police said the suspect subsequently admitted to the crime but claimed it was a case of self defense.
“Yes sir, pero self-defense po. Yung inaawat nila, tinutukan yung biyenan ko at asawa ko. Yung kamay niya, inano niya sa likod niya, syempre nag dalawang isip na ako, inunahan ko na,” Apolto explained.
(Yes sir, but it was all self defense. When people were pacifying things, he threatened my in-law and my wife. His hand was somewhat hiding something behind his back, so I did not give him a chance and attacked him right away.)
On the other hand, Margie Cabuking, mother of the slain victim, thanked the Caloocan police for the arrest of Apolto.
“Pasalamat ko po ng malaki kay Col. Modequillo po na napahuli niya po yung tao na kriminal,” she said.
(I thanked Col. Modequillo now that this criminal has been arrested.) With a report from Justinne Punsalang/Radyo Inquirer
RELATED LINK