Most Wanted Hired Killer Arrested in P’sinan - Blanco

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN – The acting provincial director of the police provincial office (PPO) of Pangasinan disclosed that a suspected hired killer in Abra and most wanted criminal in Pangasinan was arrested lately by the elements of policemen from Malasiqui, Pangasinan.

Malasiqui Police Chief Supt. Armando Muena

“It was a suspenseful sight before he was arrested as he engaged the police in a running gun battle in the rice paddy,” Senior Supt. Sterling Raymond Blanco told Northern Watch.

According to the spot and progress reports furnished to this paper by the office of Supt. Armando F. Muena, chief of police of Malasiqui, it says that Cesar S. Betonio, 31, of Barangay Villa Concreta Manabo, Abra was arrested at Brgy. Asin East in poblacion area by virtue of alias warrant of arrest dated August 6, 2013 issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Manuel F. Pastor of Branch 50 Villasis, Pangasinan for murder with no bail recommended.

After the gun battle with lawmen one can only see on movies,   Blanco said Betonio was cornered and apprehended at about 11:45 of March 28. Confiscated from his possession was a caliber 45 pistol with trademarked Norinco bearing serial number 202432 with one magazine assembly. Other items seized from him were one shoulder bag that contain 30 live ammunition of caliber 22, six live bullets for caliber 45, one live ammunition of caliber 9mm, two plastic sachet containing crystalline granules suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), one inside holster, three lighters, several plastic containers believed to be used for repacking of shabu, one wig, one brown t-shirt and one stainless scissor.

Blanco said he was informed that the killer who wore a wig as camouflage in his nefarious trade was suspected to have murdered a couple in Villasis.

Meanwhile, Blanco vehemently denied media reports that his office based here was responsible for manipulating the police journal to show that murder and homicide indices in Pangasinan have been shaved to show that these crimes have declined.

“Anybody can see or scrutinize every journal in the (police) stations and in the (police provincial) office lahat iyan naka journal at ultimo away ng magkapitbahay (being recorded)”

 A police source said that probably media men have been wondering that for the past several months there was no murder reports until the body guard of Malasiqui Mayor Armando Domantay and the staff of Board Member Ranjit Shahani were peppered recently by bullets from motorcycle riders in tandem (RIT).

Allan C. Boquiren,45, Domantay security aide died, while Gilmer Navarro, the staff of Shahani is recuperating at the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City.

Dagupan Chief of Police Supt. Cris Abrahan told Northern Watch that for the past 60 days no incident of robbery involving RIT has been reported, and for the past 30 days no record of murder and homicide involving RIT has been recorded. He said the present tranquility in the city has been due to the force multiplier involving civilian security volunteers who worked hand and hand with his policemen in maintaining peace and order in the city.