By Jennifer P. Rendon
Twelve hours after the broad daylight murder of former Barangay Captain Ernie Poral, the alleged gunman was arrested in Barangay Igcocolo, Guimbal, Iloilo.
Nilo Guardaya, 38, a resident of Igcocolo, was arrested in a hot pursuit operation at 7:20 p.m. on August 5.
Guardaya’s friend, 45-year-old Jerson Gentapao, also a resident of Igcocolo, was arrested after allegedly trying to obstruct police from apprehending Guardaya.
Members of the Iloilo City Police Office – City Intelligence Unit (ICPO-CIU), Iloilo City Police Station 2, and Iloilo City Mobile Force Company, together with personnel from Guimbal Municipal Police Station, zeroed in on the suspect’s location after searching several areas.
Guardaya yielded a .38 caliber pistol loaded with ammunition, a brown wallet, and an improvised tooter.
During his arrest, Guardaya challenged police to catch the real “culprit.”
However, Colonel Kim Legada, Iloilo City police chief, said circumstantial evidence and testimonies led investigators to Guardaya.
While he was wearing a crash helmet when he shot Poral, he allegedly took it off prior to the shooting.
Informants also identified him through his shirt, helmet, and motorcycle.
As of press time, police could not yet determine the motive behind the killing.
“What we knew is that both of them are cockfight enthusiasts,” Legada said. It was also not known if Guardaya was hired to kill the victim.
MURDER CASE
Several months ago, Guardaya was also charged with the murder of a 30-year-old salesman in City Proper, Iloilo City.
Raniel Lazaro, 30, of Barangay Villa Anita, City Proper, was repeatedly shot in front of his live-in partner and her daughter late on the evening of March 17.
Captain Roque Gimeno III of Iloilo City Police Station 1 said they identified Guardaya as Lazaro’s assailant.
Guardaya was accused of killing the 65-year-old Poral while at a flea market in Barangay Baldoza, La Paz.
Two gunshots were heard before the bloodied Poral slumped to the pavement.
The motorcycle-riding suspect alighted from the vehicle, approached the victim, and shot him.
CCTV footage showed the gunman shooting Poral from about two feet away, aiming at his head and firing a finishing shot while the victim was on the ground. Poral was believed to have died instantly.
