Police arrest suspect in slaying of 2 Japanese in Palawan

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — The No. 1 most wanted person in Palawan, one of the prime suspects in the murder of two Japanese nationals, was arrested by combined police operatives in Tarlac, Chief Supt. Amador V. Corpus, Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) regional director said yesterday.

Corpus said combined operatives of Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Intelligence-Special Concern Division, PRO3-Regional Intelligence Division-Special Concerns Unit, and the PRO3-Regional Mobile Force Battalion 3 arrested Puerto Princesa City businessman Leovino Viray Anicete, 66, in Barangay Poblacion Uno, Pura, Tarlac at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Corpus said that Anicete was arrested by virtue of warrant of arrest issued by Judge Arnel P. Cesar of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 49 in Puerto Princesa, for the double murder case filed against him last August 11.

Anicete was charged with killing Itani Masaru, 59, and Arai Yoshihiru, 24, whose bodies were found last June 2 on Galoc Island, Culion, Palawan, three days after they were reported missing in Coron.

Their victims were found mutilated and sustained bullet wounds in different parts of their bodies.

Citing police reports, Corpus said that a certain Michael Suangco, alias “Dondon,” a motor banca owner, confessed to police that the victims were killed by a group led by a certain Sonny Anicete, alias “Tatan;” and his cohorts Reynante Labampa, Aladin Mohameran, Joebez Viscara and one unidentified minor.

Suangco reportedly identified a certain Hiroyuki Nagahama, another Japanese national as the person who ordered the murder of the two Japanese.