Did he kill Reluya, 3 others? ‘Hitman’ linked to ambush falls

CEBU, Philippines —  Police have arrested a hitman and alleged member of the Labitad gun-for-hire group who they think may have had a hand in the ambush of San Fernando’s Reluya couple more than a year ago.

The arrest of Wilfredo “Willie” Labitad Sabella, 44, from Campo 3, Barangay Jaclupan, Talisay City, was not for the ambush, though. Instead, it was for standing warrants of arrest against him for murder.

Elements from the City Intelligence Branch of the Cebu City Police Office caught up with Sabella early morning yesterday in his supposed hiding place in Talisay.

CCPO Director Colonel Engelbert Soriano revealed there have been a lot of instances when the police tried to effect Sabella’s arrest but the latter has been elusive.

Aside from the murder charge he is facing, Sabella also became one of the most wanted persons in Cebu City as he was identified as a member of the group of Jerome Labitad, which was reportedly engaged in gun-for-hire activities.

Soriano said the group does not only kill for pay but has also diversified, so to speak, into the illegal drug trade.

“And now they have extended their trade into illegal drugs also,” he said.

Jerome was tagged as one of the suspects in ambush of the San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya on January 22, 2019 that resulted in the deaths of her three other companions, her husband and former San Fernando Councilor Ricardo ‘Nonoy’ Reluya, driver Allan Bayot, town investment officer Ricky Monterona.

About a week after the ambush, police figured in a shootout with who was believed to be Jerome in Barangay Campo 8, Talisay City, where they were supposed to serve warrants of arrest against him for murder and illegal drugs. Jerome, believed to have been wounded, managed to escape.

Soriano said that they are not discounting the idea that Sabella, just like Jerome, may have also taken part in the ambush of the Reluyas.

Jerome and his group were said to be trusted aides of the slain self-confessed drug lord Franz Sabalones.

Sabella, in a separate interview, denied having links with Sabalones but admitted that he once joined Labitad’s group but only for a short while.

“Dugay ra ko nibuwag nila, usa ra ka buwan, wala ko magdugay ana nila kay lain man og patakaran. Di ko kauyon (I have long disbanded from them. I just stayed for a month. I did not last because they had different rules which I did not adhere to),” Sabella said.

As to his pending murder case, Sabella explained he was forced to shoot the man for allegedly stealing his fighting cock.

He denied being a hitman, though.

But Soriano insisted that Sabella was one.

Soriano said Sabella transferred from one place to another to elude arrest but stayed longer in Talisay City where he was also arrested.

With the arrest of Sabella, Soriano believes that they have weakened the capability of Labitad group’s illegal activities.

CCPO will coordinate with the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) for the further investigation into the case. JMD (FREEMAN)