MANILA – The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Friday announced that another suspect in the June 29 attack against photojournalist Rene Joshua Abiad and his family is in its custody.

In a presser at the QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal, QCPD chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III identified the suspect as Jomari Campillo alias “Mata”, who was arrested upon his arrival from Pampanga at a bus terminal in Cubao, Quezon City on Thursday afternoon.

The suspect yielded a handgun during the arrest.

“Siya yung nag-drive nung pink na motor nung nakita na kasunod na kotse nung mga gunman (he was the one driving the pink motorcycle seen following the car of the gunmen),” Torre told reporters.

In a separate interview, the suspect also confirmed that he served as a spotter during the surveillance of the activities of the victim.

He also said a certain “Juan”, “Nanad” and “Greg” are the brains behind the attack.

“Si Juan pinaka konektado nila doon. Ang pinaka mastermind yung Nanad tapos ang kanang kamay nun si Greg tapos kinontak lang kami ni Juan (It’s Juan who is really connected to the crime. Nanad is the mastermind while Greg is his right hand man. Juan only contacted us),” Campillo said, adding that he has received PHP15,000 for his work as the spotter.

Torre also said manhunt operations against “Nanad” are ongoing.

The QCPD chief earlier said “Nanad”, a former village chairperson, blamed Abiad as the source of negative information against him.

Charges against the suspects will be amended once the additional accomplices are arrested along with possible incriminating details are obtained.

Lower fees on gun permits eyed

As this developed, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said they are looking at the possibility of lowering the cost of fees for the “permit to carry” (PTC) firearms to encourage gun holders to regularly renew their firearm licenses and documents.

“So pag-usapan namin kung ano ang puwede natin gawin diyan with regards to the fees. Ang alam ko batas ba yun? Tingnan natin kung hanggang saan ang kaya ng kapulisan (We will talk on what we can do about it with regards to the fees. It is mandated in the law so we will see what adjustments the PNP can do),” Acorda said on the sidelines of the 1st PNP Press Corps Invitational Shootfest in Camp Karingal which runs from Friday to Sunday.

Expected to attend the 1st PNP Press Corps Invitational Shootfest is former PNP chief, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

It is a Level 1 Philippine Practical Shooting Association (PPSA)-sanctioned match with five stages and 120 rounds for handguns and Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC).

PNPPC president Mar Gabriel said the shoot fest will also come with an onsite caravan for the processing of the renewal and new application of License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF).

In holding the event, Gabriel emphasized the need for every journalist to be prepared for any eventuality in the line of their work. (PNA)