A man arrested by the police in Asingan town for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition on December 9 turned out to be the gunman in the gun slaying of media practitioner Virgilio Maganes, a radio block timer and columnist of a local newspaper.

The suspect, Noe Pelle Ducay, alias a “Owieng”, a resident of Barangay Carosucan in Asingan, was initially arrested in his home by virtue of a search warrant for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Law on Fire Arms and Ammunition Act issued by Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Tita Obinario of Urdaneta City.

Police Regional Director BGen. Rodolfo Azurin said after being subjected to inquest proceedings, Ducay was charged for violation of RA 10591 under Criminal Case No. U-2643 but posted P100,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

Found at the residence of Ducay were one Caliber 357 Smith and Wesson revolver, four pieces of ammunition for Cal. 38 revolver and one black gun case.

But six days later, on December 14, one Aristotle Estabillo Axibal appeared before the Villasis Police Station and positively identified Ducay as the suspected gunman based on different photographs of the suspect in the police’s rogue’s gallery.

Also, after the arrest of Ducay, Romero Bustillos, a tricycle driver in Villasis, was also arrested after another witness positively identified him as the alleged “spotter”.

After the positive identification, a case of murder was filed before the court against Ducay, Bustillos, one John Doe and one Jane Doe for murder of Maganes on Nov. 10. docketed under NPS-01F-INV-20L-00264 on December 15 and Ducay was re-arrested.

Maganes, a native of Barangay San Blas, Villasis, was shot dead inside his family compound in Sitio Licsab, Barangay San Blas, Villasis early morning of Nov. 10. (Leonardo Micua/Ahikam Pasion/PhilStar Wire Service/ ECV)

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