LUCENA CITY – The effort of Quezon police to resolve the recent shooting incidents in the province, some of which resulted in death, is now gaining positive results.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Quezon police director Col. Ledon Monte announced the arrest of a suspected “gunman” who shot and killed a tricycle driver and his daughter at Purok Central, Barangay Mayao Castillo, this city on the morning of May 9.

Monte said they managed to arrest the suspect while his still unidentified cohort remains at large.

It can be recalled that on the morning of May 9, while tricycle driver Michael Garcia, 43, was on his way to school with her daughters, 14 and 12 years old, on board the sidecar, two unidentified men on a motorcycle suddenly opened fire, hitting the tricycle driver and his younger daughter while the eldest managed to escape.

The tricycle driver died on the spot, while the 12-year-old girl was declared dead on arrival at the hospital after she was rushed by residents in the nearby houses.

In a hot pursuit operation ordered by then-city police chief Lt. Col. Ericson Roranes, one suspect was collared by operatives. He yielded sachets containing shabu and a cal. 38 revolver believed to be the gun he used in the killing.

Monte said the results of the cross-matching on the recovered slugs and revolver are yet to be released by Quezon PNP (Philippine National Police) Crime Laboratory Office.

Investigation shows that illegal drugs had “something to do” with the killing.

Appropriate charges have already been filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against the arrested suspect.

Monte also announced that they already have leads on the other incidents and vowed not to stop investigating and following up on the cases until they are resolved.

Monte introduced to the newsmen Lt. Col. Ruben Ballera, the OIC (Officer-in-Charge) of Lucena City Police Station, who just assumed on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 23, following the relief of Roranes.

Ballera promised to do “all his best” to resolve the cases and to maintain peace and order in Lucena City, saying what happened were only “isolated cases.”

With the recent incidents in the province, Monte had immediately ordered the city police chief to intensify mobile and foot patrols, deployment of “Blue Riders” (motorcycle patrol from other stations) to augment to Lucena police force, augmentation of police investigators from other police stations, strict implementation of dictated checkpoints and intensify the campaign against loose firearms.