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Honda shooting suspect denies charges but confirms offer
By Francis Allan L. Angelo
THE person tagged in the shooting to death of a manager of Honda Cars-Iloilo confirmed being offered the contract on victim’s head last December 2008.
Rodolfo Reconquista, 50, of Poblacion, Pototan, Iloilo relayed this information to Senior Insp. Ronaldo Palomo, Iloilo City Mobile Group (ICMG) deputy chief.
Reconquista was “picked up” Friday afternoon at brgy. Poblacion, Pototan by members of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Mandurriao police station and the ICMG.
Reconquista said a certain Dolfo hired his services to kill Rustico Vega, service manager of Honda Cars-Iloilo along Diversion Road, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. The offer came before Christmas Day last year.
But Reconquista said he turned down the offer because he could not carry out the mission. He was later surprised when he heard in the news that Vega was gunned down January 9.
Reconquista said the plot on Vega’s life was planned at Brgys. Bolilao and Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
But he could not ascertain the gunmen and mastermind of the assassination plot even as he denied having a hand in the crime.
Palomo said Reconquista was later released from NBI custody Saturday because he was arrested after “hot pursuit operation period”.
The Iloilo City Prosecutors Office advised the PNP and the NBI to release Reconquista to avoid legal complications.
Palomo said they were able to link Reconquista to Vega’s case based on the testimonies of a witness and the facial sketch of the alleged gunman.
The facial sketch was based on the statement of a witness who saw Reconquista in Molo, Iloilo City minutes after the shooting. The witness said Reconquista was wearing a black jacket and held a helmet which fit the police’s description of Vega’s gunman.
By Francis Allan L. Angelo
THE Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) said it has identified the suspects in the robbery and killing of a retired Australian police in Ajuy, Iloilo last January 6.
Senior Supt. Ricardo dela Paz, IPPO director, said they will reveal the names of the suspects in the killing of Australian national Werner Holz once they have filed criminal charges against them.
As to the motive, dela Paz said this will be known in the case that they will file anytime soon.
Dela Paz said they are carefully putting together important details in the case to come up with an airtight case against the suspects.
Dela Paz said members of Task Force Werner did not rush the investigation so that they can study every piece of information that cam their way.
“We want to make sure that we have all the right information so we can put up a strong case against the suspects,” he added.
Three suspects barged inside the room of Holz and his wife Vivian nee Posadas, early morning of January 6.
The suspects stabbed the victim 24 times and took away more than P1 million worth of cash and jewelry.
A P100,000 reward is offered to persons who can provide information on the suspects in the Holz’s death.
By Francis Allan L. Angelo
POLICE arrested Friday afternoon a suspect in the shooting to death of Honda Cars-Iloilo service manager Rustico Vega last January 9.
Combined forces of the National Bureau of Investigation, Mandurriao PNP, Iloilo City Mobile Group and Pototan PNP arrested Rodolfo “Liit” Reconquista, 50, of Pototan, Iloilo on the strength of a “pickup subpoena.”
Police brought Reconquista to the police station for questioning and identification by the witnesses.
An unidentified witness positively identified Reconquista as the person sitting behind the driver of the motorcycle used in Vega’s shooting.
The witness said Reconquista was wearing a black jacket and helmet and held a gun.
He claimed seeing the suspect’s face when the latter removed his helmet after Vega was shot in front of their office along Diversion Road, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
Reconquista, who is reportedly involved in criminal activities in the 3rd district, is detained at the Mandurriao police station.
Supt. Eugenio Espejo, Iloilo City Police Office OIC-director, earlier said a witness came up with a facial sketch of the shooter of Vega.
Vega had just alighted from a passenger jeep when he was shot by two motorcycle-riding suspects in front of their office around 8am of January 9. Vega died at the Iloilo Doctor’s Hospital an hour later.
WORK RELATED
Espejo said they are training their sights on Vega’s work as the reason for his death.
The ICPO chief earlier said they were looking into the altercation between Vega and the owner of a black Honda CRV involved in a hit-and-run incident in Banate, Iloilo October 24, 2008.
Based on the investigation report cobbled by the police, the owner tried to have his car fixed at Honda-Iloilo ahead of other vehicles but Vega insisted on their “first come, first serve” policy.
An altercation erupted with the owner allegedly threatening Vega.
On October 27, 2008, members of the Banate police went to Honda Cars to inquire if a black Honda car was brought for repair which Vega confirmed.
The victim narrated the altercation between him and the owner of the CRV which was then reflected in the Banate police blotters.
The hit-and-run case in Banate was settled out of court.
On December 19, 2008, a woman went to the house of Vega and discussed with the victim her plans to buy a Honda car. But the victim suggested that she inquire with their office about sales concerns.
In the evening of the same date, the woman sent text messages to Vega inviting him out
to dinner which the latter refused. Later, the same woman asked him to meet her at Buhang Bridge in Jaro, Iloilo City.
On December 20, Vega received a text message from the same woman inviting him to chat and drinks at Smallville complex in Mandurriao.
The victim left their office Christmas party and confronted the woman why she was
acting that way. The woman said she happened to like Vega reason why she kept on inviting him out.
Vega revealed the woman’s “advances” to his wife who later narrated everything to investigators after the victim was killed.
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