Rob suspect falls

CEBU, Philippines - One of the suspects in the killing and robbing of an accountant at the South Road Properties last Saturday was arrested in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday.

No witness identified Archie Ando in the beginning, as he and the three other suspects, wore full-faced helmets when they allegedly committed the crime, but information about the getaway motorcycle led to his whereabouts and eventual arrest.

Ando was the one who allegedly drove the getaway motorcycle with plate number GE 49112.

The motorcycle was reportedly spotted at his house in Barangay Lawaan 3 in Talisay City prompting authorities to respond.

At his house yesterday, they found the motorcycle and other items believed to have been used during the robbery - a .45 mm revolver; a KG-9 submachine gun; two newly-purchased Adidas shoes worth a total of P10,000; jackets; caps; bonnets; cellphones; wallets; and an identification card.

The police also found a mud guard and a side mirror.

SPO4 Reynaldo Ramos of the Crime Scene Investigation Unit (CSIU) said the motorcycle was in the process of being refurbished so it could not be identified as the one used during the crime.

It was also at Ando’s house when authorities learned from his live-in partner about his whereabouts and about his stepson, Guillo Estudillo, who was allegedly with Ando during the crime and the one who shot the victim.

Estudillo reportedly managed to escape before authorities arrived in Talisay City.  Ando’s live-in partner is Estudillo’s mother.

From Talisay City, authorities proceeded to Lapu-Lapu City in Mactan where they arrested Ando at MEPZ 3 where he was a security guard.

Senior Insp. Ryan Devaras of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB) said Ando is a security guard of Next Generation Security Agency.

Earlier investigation revealed that there were four suspects in the robbery – two served as lookouts while the other two took the money from the backpack of victim Jennilyn Aquino, 25.

The suspects shot Aquino three times when she refused to give the bag. They then fled with P485,265 from the P760,000 Aquino had withdrawn that afternoon.

Ramos said the motorcycle used during the crime was damaged after its mud guard was cracked.

Statement

It was under police custody that Ando spilled the beans. He confirmed it was Estudillo who shot Aquino but they reportedly did not intend to kill her. He said it was only when Aquino resisted and Estudillo’s face was revealed when the woman was shot.

Ando asked for forgiveness from Aquino’s family and blamed his and his companions’ behavior to alcohol.

He said it was his brother, Ariel, who reportedly lured them to drink and who reportedly masterminded the crime. Ariel is now at large after learning the police are hunting him.

Ando said Ariel worked at Visayas Construction where Aquino worked who may have had knowledge of the withdrawal.

Ando, a native of Ozamiz, denied ties with the Kuratong Baleleng Group, an organized group known for vigilante killings.

He said it was the first time they committed something of this scale.

 Evidence recovered from the crime scene is subject to ballistic examination.

Ando is facing charges as Police Regional Director Noli Taliño ordered a deeper investigation into the crime.

 “Based on their follow-up nahuli itong isang suspect sa pagpatay… I directed the city director to dig deeper, baka may iba pang sangkot sa crime na ito,” Taliño said.  (FREEMAN)