Gunman who killed Taguig cop, barangay chair falls

Michael Mama. PHOTO BY JODEE AGONCILLO

The gunman who allegedly shot dead a Taguig chair and a former policeman was arrested by members of the Southern Police District (SPD) early Friday morning.

Chief Supt Tomas Apolinario Jr., SPD director, said Michael Mama, 33, was arrested around 5:50 a.m. along Road 14, Purok 2, in Brgy. New Lower Bicutan by members of the SPD special operations and drug enforcement unit led by Chief Insp. Jerry Amindalan.

Mama was arrested based on three warrants issued on Feb. 6, 2013, by Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 266 Judge Toribio Ilao Jr. for carnapping, frustrated murder and robbery.

Amindalan said Mama was the main suspect in the killing of former Taguig policeman PO2 Angelo Villanueva in October 2017 at New Lower Bicutan, and Barangay Lower Bicutan chair Aurelio Padilla in 2015.

Drugs, money and politics were eyed as motives.

Confiscated from Mama were an M1 cal 9mm, a submachine gun with magazine loaded with 45 bullets, a hand grenade and a black sling bag.

Other suspects

Also arrested in a separate buy-bust operation a few meters away from where Mama was arrested were Mamaís 58-year-old father Ben Mama, who claimed to be a bil-al or assistant imam; his brother Datu Omar Mama, 25; brother-in-law Mochiaco Usman, 19; and Akmad Alima, 24.

Mama and the four suspects were presented to the media in the afternoon. They all denied the charges. 

Mama told the Inquirer he used drugs and peddled, too, but denied being a gunman. 

Amindalan said Villanuevaís partner Jemelee Roy Llenado, positively identified Mama as Villanuevaís killer and confronted Mama why he killed  her partner. Both knew each other, she told probers.

In an interview, Amindalan said Mama was one of the suspected notorious gunmen in the area, but  most complainants were afraid to file a case.

Amindalan said Mama was involved in a gun-for-hire and illegal drugs ring  led by his uncle Omar since 2009. 

Omar, who eventually won as barangay councilor, had a feud with  Padilla for  bringing in as staff a village watchman who was reportedly  involved in illegal drugs, Amindalan said.