QUEZON City police operatives have arrested the mastermind behind the shooting and wounding of an employee of the Office of the Ombudsman last February 1.
Dexter Alambat Cruz, 45, was arrested at around 7:50 p.m. last Monday in his house in Barangay Culiat, Quezon City.
Cruz was nabbed after the gunman, Marlon Nery, 47, was arrested by QCPD operatives at around 9:20 a.m. last Monday in Barangay San Agustin, Quezon City.
Seized from Nery were two handguns, magazines, ammunition, and personal belongings.
Nery executed an extra-judicial confession that detailed how the crime was planned and executed.
Nery pointed to Cruz, his friend since 2013, as the mastermind behind the failed murder of Diane Jane Paguirigan, 37, an administrative aide at the office of Deputy Ombudsman for Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices Jose Balmeo Jr.
Paguirigan was walking at the corner of Quezon Ave. and Cordillera St. in Barangay Dona Josefa, Quezon City Wednesday last week when the suspect grabbed her bag.
When Paguirigan resisted, the suspect shot her in the chest. The victim is still being treated at the East Avenue Medical Center.
After his arrest, Nery told the police that Cruz, also an employee at the Office of the Ombudsman, contacted him and paid him P30,000 in exchange for the killing of Paguirigan.
A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Cruz, who yielded a 12-gauge shotgun, a rifle, two handguns, a fragmentation grenade, assorted magazines, and assorted ammunition, among others.
National Capital Region Police Office director Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo congratulated the QCPD for solving the case.
“I commend the elements of Quezon City Police District for a job well done in causing the arrest of the gunman that led to the identification and apprehension of the mastermind behind the shooting incident,” said Estomo.
Nery and Cruz will face charges of frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. An additional case for illegal possession of explosives will be filed against Cruz.
