2 "hired killers" fall

CEBU, Philippines - Two suspected guns-for-hire were nabbed Monday evening at a checkpoint in Barangay Tayud, Consolacion town.

The Consolacion police led by Senior Insp. Wilson Parilla, arrested Jessie Verioso, 27, and Kenneth Camuta, 33, both of Barangay Cantao-an, Naga City.

The police recovered a .357 cal, revolver with five live rounds and a cellular phone from Verioso while Camuta was found with a .45 cal. pistol with seven live rounds, a silencer, a small sachet of shabu and a cellular phone.

The two were on a Suzuki Rider motorcycle with plates that read “for registration” when they stopped at the checkpoint.

Parilla said that when the suspects were apprehended Camuta pulled out his pistol while Verioso disembarked from the motorcycle and tried to escape.

The residents nearby who noticed the commotion immediately responded and mauled Camuta whom they thought was a robber as police chased Verioso.

The two later said they were heading to Danao City to sell their firearms. Camuta said he bought his gun at P9,500 and wanted to sell it for P13,000 while Verioso bought his firearm at P2,000 and planned to sell it for P2,500.

Camuta, whose wife is four months pregnant, denied being a hired killer but admitted that he once used illegal drugs.

Verioso, whose wife is also eight months pregnant, said that poverty pushed him to crime.

“Tali-anak man gud akong asawa pero karon pa ko nisuway ani gyud,” he told reporters.

But Parilla belied their claims they were on their way to sell guns and said both of them are guns-for-hire of a drug syndicate and were out to kill a man when they were arrested.

Parilla added the suspects where paid at least P40,000 to P50,000 each for the hit. Both were usually monitored by the police in the cities of Mandaue and Cebu.

“Naa ni sila’y amo nga kung duna’y pusher nga mubalitok ila dayong tirahan,” Parilla said.

Camuta will be charged for illegal possession of firearms and possession of illegal drugs while Verioso will only faces charges for illegal possession of firearms.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador said that even if both suspects can go free after posting bail what was important was they were able to save two lives that day. – (FREEMAN)