INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos on Monday said the suspect in the fatal shooting of a Land Transportation Office (LTO) official in Quezon City last week has been arrested.
In a press conference during the launch of the mental health hotline of the Bureau of Fire Protection, Abalos refused to divulge more information about the matter as the inquest proceeding is still pending.
The arrested suspect was identified as alias “Danny”. He was collared in Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City on May 25.
“’Yung nangyari doon sa LTO official, si Mercedita Gutierrez, LTO employee, ay meron nang suspek na naaresto na ang ating kapulisyahan,” Abalos said.
(Regarding the killing of an LTO official, Mercedita Gutierrez, LTO employee, the police have already arrested a suspect.)
“Mamaya, anytime ngayon, i-inquest na ito. So hintayin na lang po natin ‘yung inquest mamaya (Later, anytime now, he will undergo inquest proceeding. So let’s just wait for it later),” he added.
According to Abalos, the suspect in police custody was the alleged gunman. The police are already looking into a possible motive behind the killing, he added.
On Saturday, the LTO identified the victim as Mercedita Gutierrez, chief of the Registration Section of the LTO Central Office.
According to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), an unidentified gunman on board a motorcycle shot and killed Gutierrez near the corner of K-H Street near Kamias Road, Brgy. Pinyahan, Quezon City on Friday night.
