Morales grateful for speedy arrest of suspect in fiscal slay

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday lauded efforts of the police in the arrest of the suspect in the killing of Assistant Special Prosecutor Madonna Joy Tanyag.

In a statement, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales expressed her commendation to the Philippine National Police “for its immediate handling of the senseless killing of Tanyag which resulted in the just as immediate apprehension of the killer.”

With less than 24 hours since the crime, the authorities have arrested Angelo Galvez Avenido Jr. who allegedly robbed Tanyag and stabbed her three times.

Tanyag was just buying milk tea along Visayas Avenue on Monday morning when Avenido stole her belongings as she was getting back to her car.

The state prosecutor was brought to East Avenue Medical Center but she was later declared dead. Tanyag was five months pregnant.

Morales recalled that Tanyag was “known to her colleagues as a hardworking and tough prosecutor handling high-profile cases.”

Among those handled by Tanyag are graft cases of former Vice President Jejomar Binay, former Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay and former Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri.

The police said “robbery gone wrong” is the most plausible motive for the crime, but they would continue to probe other angles that might have led to the killing of Tanyag.

The PNP said that Avenido was arrested due to footage recorded by a CCTV camera and the citizens that identified the suspect through his tattoo.

“All evidence lead to this person. This is not a fall guy,” Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Joselito Esquivel said.

PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde added that Avenido tested positive for drug use when he was arrested.

The police added that they would file a robbery with homicide case against Avenido, who is due for inquest proceedings at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

READ: Suspect in Ombudsman prosecutor's slay on drugs, PNP says