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.