By A.L. RICALDE
Correspondent
THE primary suspect in the 2016 shooting death of a traffic law enforcer here was arrested on Yacapin-Capt.Vicente Roa streets near Cogon market, this city, at around 12 noon yesterday.
Alex Masacal or “Mohaimen Macauyag” was arrested by the officers from the Cogon police led by Chief Insp. Harvey Abellanosa based on an arrest warrant by Judge Joeffre Acebido of the 41st branch of the Regional Trial Court here.
He was identified as the killer of traffic law enforcer Cris Cabingas near Cogon market last year.
The 30-year old suspect did not resist arrest, said PO3 Rex Tiniom who handled the investigation.
Masacal claimed that his real name is “Mohaimen Macauyag” of Marawi City.
According to Tinio, Masacal was sighted in the Cogon market area for days.
“Gina-monitor namo kay on and off man gud siya sa area. Ganiha kay positive naman pud siya, mao nadakpan… amo siyang nadakpan,” Tinio said.
Masacal strongly denied the allegations against him, saying that he was in Marawi City when Cabingas was killed.
Cabingas, who was a team leader of the Roads and Traffic Administration, was shot in the back while manning traffic operations along Guillermo-JR Borja streets on Dec. 30, 2016.
He was rushed to a hospital but died the following morning.
Masacal said, “Gipasangil lang na sa ako kay naay usa ka ‘asset’ sa gobiyerno nga nasuko sa ako, mao akoy gitudlo.”
No bail was recommended for him.
City hall had offered a P300,000eward for Masacal’s capture.
Task Force Hapsay Dalan chairman Jose Edgardo Uy lauded the arrest of the suspect, saying that justice would soon be served.
“I was confident that the Cocpo did not sleep on its job,” Uy said.
Police said Masacal also has another warrant of arrest for murder with complex and intentional abortion issued by Judge Gil Bollozos of the 21st branch of the Regional Trial Court here.
Police said the crime happened in June 2016 in Barangay Puerto. They said Masacal allegedly killed his own wife.
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