Authorities nab fugitive ex-cop who allegedly killed colleague

After being at large for five years, a former police officer who allegedly killed a colleague was finally arrested.

According to Marisol Abdurahman's Friday 24 Oras report, suspect Manolito Manatan allegedly got into an argument with victim Corporal Joel Samonte at a wake in 2018.

When Samonte drew a lighter, Manatan mistook this for a gun and supposedly began to repeatedly stab the victim.

Samonte fled and has been in hiding since then until he was recently arrested by the District Special Operations Unit of the Northern Police District in Caloocan.

“Nagtago siya ng limang taon bago natin siya nadakip. Kino-consider yung security palagi 'pag tayo ay nag-o-operate, naghahanap, lalo na po sa mga insidente mga kaso ng pagpatay,” said NPD District Director Police brigadier General Rizalito Gapas.

(He hid for five years before we arrested him. We always consider security during operations and searches, especially in incidents or cases of killing.)

Meanwhile, the victim’s family welcomed the development as they continued to mourn the victim.

“Nagkaroon [yung anak namin] ng anxiety, depression sa pagkawala ng tatay nya. Christmas na naman, birthday ko na naman, wala nanaman kaming tatay. Di ba ang sakit?” said the victim’s wife, Shella Padilla.

(Our son developed anxiety and depression over the loss of his father. It’s Christmas, It’s my birthday, I don’t have my father again. Isn’t that painful?)

The suspect, now under the custody of the Detective and Special Operations Unit (DSOU), recalled that he was great friends with the victim.

“Hindi naman po ibang tao [ang biktima], mag kumpare po kami. Magkakatuwang,” said Manatan.

(The victim was very close to me. We were buddies, allies.)

“Maaaring sa korte [ko] na lang po [sasabihin ang nangyari],” he added.

(I might just explain everything in court.) — Jiselle Casucian/DVM, GMA Integrated News