Police announced yesterday the arrest of three suspects in the liquidation of PO3 Danilo Malunes in Brgy. Inawayan, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, about 48 hours after his death.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, identified those arrested as Russel Langkoyan, alias Penot, 18; Robert Domdom, alias Mine, 39, and his cousin, Felipe Domdom, alias Aming, 26.

Franco said two of the three suspects were positively identified by Arnie, wife of Malunes, and other witnesses, as among those who had participated in the assassination of the policeman on Friday.

The arrest of the three in Sitio Matognaw, Brgy. Linaon, Cauayan, which was a joint effort of the 614 th Provincial Mobile Group, 61 st Infantry Battalion and town policemen, yielded a 9mm Shooter pistol.

Senior Inspector Louie Figueroa, Cauayan police chief, told the DAILY STAR last night that Langkoyan was among the two gunmen who opened fire at Malunes, while Felipe Domdom served as the look-out.

Persistent reports that the assassination of Malunes may not be insurgency-related and motivated by personal grudges was bolstered by initial police investigation findings that the slain policeman was among those who participated in the arrest of the cousin of the suspects who was shot by law enforcers.

Figueroa said the suspects were also linked to robbery-hold-up and stabbing incidents, where victims did not pursue charges against them for security reasons.

Malunes, a member of the Cauayan police force, was initially reported to have been shot in front of his wife by three suspected New People's Army hitmen at a public market in Brgy. Inayawan, Cauayan.

The fleeing suspects introduced themselves as members of the NPA, while fleeing from the crime.

Malunes died from gunshot wounds in the head and in different parts of his body. His wife was spared by his assassins, who also took his .45 caliber pistol and wallet containing cash.

Figueroa said the suspects vehemently denied any involvement in the slay of Malunes during tactical interrogations, despite positive identification by witnesses.

Figueroa also acknowledged the help of the community in the immediate arrest of three suspects, who are now detained at the Cauayan Police Station Jail.*GPB

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