The Valenzuela City Police has seized through an aggressive manhunt operation in Southern Leyte and Davao City seven out of nine suspects in the murder of Chinese national Wang Wen Xing a.k.a. “Jeffrey Ong.”

Following the earlier arrest of murder suspect Isagani Sobretodo on June 12, 2011, the other suspects were successfully tracked down and transported back to Valenzuela City Police Station (VCPS) on the afternoon of June 15.

The victim, Jeffrey Ong, a native of Fuijian China, was a stay-in manager of Cosang Plastic Manufacturing located at 9 Sigma St., Don Pablo Subd., Barangay Rincon, Valenzuela City. His death was caused by blunt force to the head.

The uneasiness between the victim and the perpetrators started on June 1, upon the former’s announcement of the cease of operations of Cosang Plastic Manufacturing. The workers asked the owner for fare assistance that was gradually turned down. On June 7, the stay-in workers, some of whom were the suspects, have been ordered, with finality, to vacate their barracks. The victim was last seen alive at about 7:00 P.M. of June 9 entering the Cosang Plastic compound on board his motorcycle.

Witnesses discovered the lifeless body of Jeffrey Ong at around 4:30 P.M. of June 11 lying in the pavement inside the Cosang Plastic compound prompting them to report the matter to Police Community Precinct 4 of the VCPS and were subsequently relayed to Station Investigation Unit.

The suspects, who were all stay-in workers at the company were nowhere to be found, bringing along with them their respective belongings. Investigators, at that point, believed that they have gone in hiding.

Follow-up and pursuit operations were conducted upon securing profiles of the suspects. It resulted to the arrest of Sobretodo in Caloocan City. During the interrogation, he revealed that a week prior to the discovery of the cadaver, they planned to rob and kill the victim but denied having direct involvement in the killing of their employer. The arrested suspect alleged that his cohorts, most of whom are his relatives, were in flight heading to Sogod and Abuyog in Southern Leyte.

In a separate development, investigators were able to isolate Joselito Pedad Andres, brother of suspect Michael Andres Piedad, who admitted that his brother has already left and was headed to Davao City.

With the necessary information at hand, two teams were organized by the VCPS to conduct hot pursuit of the fleeing suspects. Police Chief Inspector Danilo S. Bugay headed the Davao team while Police Inspector Roden Tejuco was in charge of the team headed for Southern Leyte.

On June 13, information was received that accused Michael Andres surrendered himself to Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City and was already under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). The suspect was turned over to P/CINSP Danilo Bugay upon the latter’s arrival in Davao City.

On the other hand, the team of P/INSP Roden Tejuco, after proper coordination with the Provincial Police Office of Leyte arrested Edgardo Sabandal Camanso, Jr., Joel  Epis Sabandal, Jerry Sabandal Pacaldo, Jr., Nelson C. Sabandal, Ryan B. Fernandez, and Wilson P. Dait.

Via domestic airlines, the arrested accused from Davao City and Leyte were brought to the office of Station Investigation Unit of VCPS for investigation and proper disposition.

One of the suspects, Reagan Arboneda, is still at large and is subject of a manhunt operation.

City Mayor Sherwin T. Gatchalian commends the VCPS for yet another achievement in fighting crime and chasing its perpetrators.  Incidentally, today, June 16, the policemen who were instrumental to the rescue of nine women from the claws of suspected human traffickers were awarded with Plaque of Commendation and cash incentives of PhP 5,000 each.

The VCPS’ well-coordinated efforts that lead to the arrest of the suspects in the murder of Mr. Ong are testaments of the city police force’s efficiency and effectiveness in handling crimes.

“There is no place for any crime in our city.  We are firm on safeguarding the peace and order of the City and our constituents against anyone who wants to disturb it.  No perpetrator of any horrible offence such as this could escape our ire.  We let everyone be aware that we will not stop until each and every stone are turned, wherever they are,  to find and chase the perpetrators to place them under prosecution,” the Mayor said.

- Michael King Urieta