A police sergeant, alleged to be a hitman for the Teves family, was arrested in Quezon City by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Tuesday, according to a statement from the agency released on Wednesday.
The suspect was identified as Police Staff Sergeant Noel Santa Ana Alabata Jr., also known as Alfonso Edena Tan, who was arrested for charges of attempted murder and attempted homicide.
The arrest warrant for attempted murder was issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 35 Presiding Judge of the 7th Judicial Region, Glenda J. Yee-Uymatiao in Dumaguete City. The bail recommended was set at P120,000.00.
The warrant for attempted homicide, on the other hand, was signed by MTCC Branch 1, 7th Judicial Region Presiding Judge Dinah Bagares Tabada-Chu, and the bail was set at P36,000.00.
CIDG Chief Police Brigadier Romeo Caramat Jr. explained that Alabata was previously assigned to PDEG Region 6 and was supposedly used by the Teves family as a hitman for a certain "Ong," who was a business rival of the Teveses.
Caramat added that the verification process on the suspect's involvement in other cases is still ongoing and that the CIDG will be fair and ensure justice is served based on the information they obtain.
“Patuloy ang pag-verify namin sa akusado na itinuturong gunman ng mga Teves upang malaman kung meron pa itong mga kinasasangkutan na kaso. Magiging patas kami sa lahat ng aming makukuhang impormasyon at sisiguraduhin na mananagot siya sa ating batas,” he said.
The CIDG brought Alabata to the CIDG DSOU Office for documentation and custody while waiting for a commitment order from the issuing court.
