Police nab suspects in Dumanjug strafing case

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III inspects the bullet-riddled vehicle of LP vice mayoral bet Rene Asenstista (PHOTO FROM GUNGUN GICA’S FB PAGE)

POLICE arrested three of the suspects in the strafing incident involving the vice mayoral candidate of the Liberal Party-Cebu chapter for Dumanjug town last Friday.

Senior Insp. Arvi Arbuis, chief of the Dumanjug police precinct, identified the suspects as 18-year old Dexter James Aniñon, who reportedly served as lookout, Joselito Quirante Gicale, a 35-year-old resident of barangay Pawa and 31-year-old Samuel Villagonzalo of barangay Sima. Gicale and Villagonzalo were arrested in barangay Pawa early today while Aniñon was arrested last Friday evening.

Arbuis said they are still pursuing five more suspects including a certain Nilo Quirante, a former policeman tied to a local politician.

The three men were accused of strafing and lobbing a grenade at the Mitsubishi Pajero vehicle of LP vice mayoral bet Rainero Asentista parked in Dumanjug town located 74.3 kilometers southwest of Cebu City.

Arbuis said Gicale and Villagonzalo were spotted and arrested in Quirante’s home. Arbuis said Villagonzalo even tried to pull out his .45 pistol but he managed to subdue him. Arbuis said he sustained minor bruises.

Police also found a .45 pistol, one grenade and eight packs of shabu from Villagonzalo’s possession.

Items recovered from Gicale were one firearm, six small packs of shabu, a long-bladed bolo and drug sniffing paraphernalia.

Arbuis said the suspects were positively identified by the witnesses. Policemen found messages from Villgonzalo’s cell phone that supposedly established his link to last Thursday’s strafing incident.