Authorities nabbed a suspect behind the murder of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija mayor Ferdinand Bote.
The suspect, who was identified as 48-year-old Florencio Suarez, was arrested on July 11 at around 9:30 AM PHT in checkpoint on Andaya Highway in Barangay Cabasag, Del Gallego, Camarines Sur, reported GMA News.
Police Regional Office 5 director Chief Superintendent Arnel Escobal said that Robert Gumacay who was Suarez’s companion during the killing was not a suspect or person of interest in the killing of the General Tinio, Nueva Ecija mayor.
Authorities were able to recover a caliber .45 pistol from the suspect when his vehicle stopped at the said checkpoint.
Both Suarez and Gumacay are now under the custody Del Gallego Municipal Police Station for further investigation.
Bote was gunned down while inside his vehicle in Cabanatuan City on Tuesday, July 3.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director Oscar Albayalde said the mayor was on his way out of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) office in Cabanatuan City when he was shot by the suspect who was riding a motorcycle.
A CCTV footage of the ambush shows Bote’s Toyota Fortuner right outside NIA’s gate when a man in black stood beside the vehicle before shooting the mayor dead.
Bote sustained injuries in different parts of his body and was immediately rushed to the MV Gallego Hospital. The mayor, however, was declared dead-on-arrival.
The shooting incident happened only a day after the murder of Tanauan City mayor Antonio Halili who was also gunned down by a sniper during a flag ceremony in the parking lot of the city hall.
