Isko offers P200K reward for info leading to murder accomplice
Photo by JERRY S. TAN
A P200,000 reward is being offered by Mayor Isko Moreno for any information that would lead to the whereabouts and possibly arrest of a motorcycle rider who was caught on video working as an accomplice in a broad daylight shooting murder of a truck driver in Paco, Manila.
Moreno identified the suspect as Alfredo Curita, 52, of Bgy. San Jose, Tiaong, Quezon and called on his family to surrender the suspect with the assurance that he will be given a chance to defend himself in the proper courts.
According to the mayor, the identity of anyone who has information about Curita will be kept in confidence and all he has to do is coordinate with the office of Manila Police District (MPD) Gen. Leo Francisco.
In his live broadcast, Moreno showed a closed-circuit television recording which showed victim Elbert Silva, 38, an employee of Quick Mover Cargo and Warehouse Corp. and resident of Paco, who was then casually walking with three co-workers along Zulueta Street at 8 a.m. of April 19, when suspect Nestor Perez, 57, also of Tiaong, Quezon, appeared from behind him and shot him pointblank right in the back of the head.
When the victim’s companions fled out of fear and the victim fell to the ground face down, the gunman shot him once more in the back of the head and then casually walked away from the scene.
He was met at the corner of Amadeo Street by a motorcycle-riding man, later identified as Curita. The gunman passed the bag containing the firearm he used to kill the victim to Curita and then the latter sped away.
Patrolling operatives of the MPD-Paz police community precinct noticed the commotion and had suspect Perez arrested. The gunman was caught off-guard when angry residents suddenly pursued and beat him up, resulting in his subsequent arrest and him suffering injuries.
“Kung gusto ninyong kumita nang malinis, magbigay kayo ng impormasyon at kakalawitin namin ito (Curita). Sabi ko sa inyo ‘wag kayo gagawa sa Maynila. Gusto namin ng kapanatagan,” Moreno said.
He also appealed to Curita’s family to convince him to surrender, with an assurance that he will have his day in court.
“Kung nakikinig ang mga kamag-anak ni Curita, pasukuin n’yo siya. Ako, hangga’t maari, gusto ko nakukuhang buhay ang mga suspect. ‘Yung gunman nadale, kinulata ng taumbayan,” Moreno said.
