Tabanao Murder Suspect Identified

Murder charges have been filed before the Cebu City Prosecutors Office against the alleged hitman of former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) spokesman Jessie Tabanao, who was gunned down along Escario Street last September 14.

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) director Noli Romana claimed that they were able to identify a certain Arnel “Aye” Solivar as the one who killed Tabanao after the witnesses told them that the man who shot the victim was left-handed.

City police intelligence chief Romeo Santander said Solivar has been linked to a string of shooting incidents in 2005. Santander added that Solivar is left-handed because his right arm was injured after it was hit by a bullet in a previous shooting incident.

According to Romana, the 35-year old suspect used to be a member of the Akhro Fraternity, but the group’s leader strongly denied that Solivar has been part of their organization.

The witnesses described the gunman to be in his early 30s, medium built and about 5 feet and 6 inches in height. The witnesses identified Solivar when the police investigators showed them photos of suspected criminals in their gallery.

Tabanao’s wife Katrina Kaye is hoping that Solivar will be arrested by the police and will eventually reveal the identity of the mastermind who hired him to kill the PDEA agent. The police believed that Solivar was hired by a drug-trafficking group who may have a grudge against Tabanao.

Two of the witnesses who executed affidavits before the police investigators said they were drinking beer at a barbecue grill on Escario St. around 11:45 pm when they saw a red motorcycle stopped around 10 meters away.

The driver of the motorcycle, who wore a helmet, crossed the street and approached Tabanao who was standing beside his white pick-up vehicle. Although the gunman was wearing a crash helmet, the witnesses said they can identify him once they see him.

Tabanao sustained five bullet wounds in different parts of his body that causes his instantaneous death. He was on his way to fetch Katrina at the Asiatown I.T. Park that night, but for unknown reason he stopped along Escario Street and disembarked from his vehicle.