ORMOC CITY-The principal suspect in the shooting of a barangay councilor was arrested by local police less than 24 hours after the crime was committed in Barangay Cagnocot, Villaba in Leyte on the evening of November 25.
The suspect, identified as Junio Montebon, a resident of Brgy. Tabunok, was apprehended on November 26 at around 10:05 pm while in his barangay.
Villaba chief of police, Major Ian Salvador Po, said the arrest followed a tip from a witness who personally reported to the police station, identifying Montebon as the gunman and providing information about his location.
Acting on this lead, a composite team from Villaba Municipal Police Station accompanied the victim’s wife to the suspect’s house. Upon their arrival, the victim’s wife positively identified Montebon as the shooter, leading to his immediate arrest.
During a search conducted in front of community members, police recovered the following items from Montebon’s possession: one .45 caliber pistol; one magazine loaded with seven live rounds of .45 caliber ammunition; and three sachets of white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu.
Major Po revealed that during the investigation, Montebon admitted to shooting the victim due to an old grudge stemming from an unresolved conflict several years ago when they were neighbors in the same barangay.
Montebon now faces multiple charges, aside from frustrated murder, including possession of illegal drugs under Article II of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and violation of RA 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
The charges have been filed at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. Montebon is currently detained at the Villaba Municipal Police Station lock-up facility.
(ROBERT DEJON)
