EPD’s 4th most wanted arrested after 7 years in hiding

Suspect Gilbert Panoso. PHOTO FROM EPD

A 28-year old married salesman who was facing arrest for homicide charges seven years ago was finally apprehended in Mandaluyong.

The Eastern Police District (EPD) on Tuesday said that Gilbert Panoso was arrested by the EPD Intelligence Unit and Special Operations Unit on Monday, January 29.

A report to Chief Supt. Reynaldo Biay, district director of the EPD, showed that Panoso was issued an arrest warrant by Presiding Judge Ofelia Calo of the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 11 on April 27, 2010.

“Investigation revealed that on July 29, 2009 at around 8:00 p.m. at Block 37, Welfareville Compound, Mandaluyong City, the victim Lito Maca, as well as the suspect and some others were dancing in a resto-bar (Kikay’s) in Mandaluyong City,” according to an EPD spot report.

“Amidst the party, the victim unintentionally swiped Panoso who immediately got irked and punched Maca in the face,” the report said.

Maca tried to run a way, but Panoso’s group chased him down with stones on their hands, according to the report.

“Unfortunately, the victim got hit with a stone on his nape but still managed to get up and ran towards Block 22, Welfareville Compound where the group of Panoso concertedly mobilized and ganged up on him even if he was already helplessly brawled on the ground,” the report said.

“When the victim was already lying motionless on the ground they left the scene of the aforesaid incident by riding on a tricycle,” it said.

As of this posting, Panoso is detained at Mandaluyong City Police Station Detention cell while waiting for the commitment order from the Mandaluyong RTC, the EPD report said. /je