QUEZON City Police District (QCPD) Director PBGen. Nicolas D. Torre III said a suspect tagged in the discovery of the cadavers of two missing persons was arrested by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) under PMaj. Don Don Llapitan.

The two missing persons were identified as Edilbertha Borruel Gomez, 79 years old, a resident of Bgy. Pinyahan, Quezon City, and Maria Cristina dela Cruz Capistrano, a resident of Bgy. Holy Spirit, Q.C.

The CIDU identified the suspect as Mark Anthony Valera Cosio, alias “Mac Mac,” 41 years old, taxi driver and a resident of Bgy. Talipapa, Quezon City.

Investigations revealed that victim Gomez left their house at about 5:30 a.m. of January 14, 2023, on board a taxi cab owned by Manuel Cruz y Celestino, with plate number NBG 1381, driven by suspect Cosio. The latter conveyed victim Gomez in La loma, Quezon City and was tailed by his three cohorts identified as Rolando Mosinos Picaña alias “Lanlan,” Keith Richard Robosa and Jimbo Robosa who were allegedly on board a red Sedan.

It can be recalled that victim Gomez will fetch a relative before going to Manaog Church in Pangasinan, but was not able to return home. Therefore at about 12:42 p.m. of January 15,m, the victim’s brother-in-law Paquito Ballingo Gonzalez reported to the Kamuning Police Station that victim Gomez, his sister-in-law, was missing since January 14.

On January 25, the incident was reported to the CIDU. Immediately thereafter, PMaj. Don Don Llapitan formed two teams whose task mainly was to locate the said missing person.

Through the aid of a CCTV footage, the operatives were able to identify the suspect and track down his whereabouts.

On the same day, they went to the garage of Ballat and Fe taxi cab in Sabina Village and talked to Manuel Celestino Cruz Celestino.

Investigations further revealed that the suspect has a standing warrant of arrest before a Manila court in 2002 for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Moreover, on February 2, 2023, the CIDU received information through QC Hotline 122 that suspect Cosio was involved in gun running, drug pushing, kidnapping and selling of explosives.

Thus, based on the validated information report a buy-bust operation was conducted that resulted in the arrest of the suspect on February 3 at about 10:30 a.m. in front of Lot 4, Blk. 3, Mariano St., Bgy. Sauyo, Quezon City. He was charged for violating RA 9516 or the Unlawful Possession of Explosives before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office with no bail recommended.

While on custody on February 10, suspect Cosio, out of conscience, broke down and confessed that when he fetched victim Gomez, his cohorts Picaña and the Robosa brothers on board a red Sedan tailed them until they reached the mountainous part of Marilaque, Tanay, Rizal and dumped there the body of victim Gomez.

On February 11, CIDU operatives together with the Anti-Kidnapping Group in Camp Crame, Quezon City led by PLt. Col. Lawrence Bathan proceeded to the area and scoured the place described by suspect Cosio where they found the dead body of victim Gomez.

On the other hand, the suspect also revealed that together with his cohorts, they were reaponsible for the death of Maria Cristina Capistrano who was reported missing on January 27 and whose cadaver was found in Bgy. Laug, Mexico, Pampanga on January 29.

With the information at hand, CIDU operatives are still conducting rigorous manhunt operations for the possible arrest of suspect Picaña and alias John Paul.

“Kayong mga gumawa ng krimen tulad nito ay walang takas sa ating batas. Kahit saang sulok ng lugar kayo pumunta, kaming kapulisan ay hindi titigil sa paghahanap sa inyo.” Torre III said.