Self-confessed killer escapes, captured in Cavite

The gunman who earlier confessed to the murder of a prosecutor in Cavite escaped custody on Monday morning and was captured after a manhunt operation in the afternoon.

The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Marvin Linaban, was first apprehended by authorities during a buy-bust on January 7 in Dasmariñas City, along with another armed companion identified as Elvin Esguerra.

Linaban later admitted to investigators his participation in the shooting of Trece Martires Assistant City Prosecutor Edilbert Mendoza during the tactical interrogation.

He was under the custody of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit at Camp General Pantaleon Garcia in Barangay Poblacion here when he escaped at 9:30 a.m. on Monday.

According to a police report, the suspect asked permission to go to the comfort room. He was duly assisted by Cpl. Lynard Pareja and Pat. Dexter Tapawan.

Pareja was about to handcuff Linaban when the latter suddenly pushed the former and immediately ran towards the back door and jumped into the Imus River next to the camp.

The suspect, however, was arrested by the Provincial Intelligence Unit after five hours of manhunt in Barangay San Miguel 2.

Earlier, Linaban expressed remorse and willingness to make an extra-judicial confession in front of a lawyer for the killing of Mendoza.

Mendoza was shot dead on Dec. 31, 2021 outside his house in Barangay Cabuco, Trece Martires City, Cavite while doing his early morning exercises.

During the sting operation on Friday, the arresting team also confiscated from Linaban and Esguerra several plastic sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P69,000.

Authorities also confiscated a .45 caliber Thompson Auto-Ordnance pistol and a 9mm pistol. Both firearms have been submitted to the Philippine National Police Forensic Laboratory for ballistics examination.