GUIMBA, Nueva Ecija – A policeman detailed in Agoo, La Union was tagged in the killing of a lady councilor of Sto. Domingo town in Barangay Malayantoc here Sunday morning.
Pat. Saddam Pascual, 32, was arrested at around 1 a.m. on Monday in Barangay Sicsican, Talavera, Nueva Ecija. The suspect was the victim’s former partner, police said.
Lt. Col. Reynold Macabitas, Guimba police chief, said Pascual was arrested in a hot pursuit operation following the killing of councilor Angelique Alexis Paulino, 33, resident of Barangay Sto. Rosario, Sto. Domingo.
While there was no CCTV in the crime scene, Macabitas said footages after the area of the crime up to Rosales, Pangasinan corroborated testimonies of eyewitness that the suspect was seen in the vicinity of the victim’s residence prior to the incident.
Paulino was shot dead while driving her gray sedan. The suspect, on the other hand, was reportedly on board a red hatchback car (KAB 3716), police said.
“May mga testigo na bago mangyari ang pamamaril nakita mismo yung suspek doon sa vicinity ng bahay ng biktima inside his private car” Macabitas said.
“Nakita naman namin sa mga CCTV after the incident yung sasakyan na ginamit mismong yung sasakyan ng suspect,” he added.
Investigation revealed Pascual and Paulino, both with previous relationships, were partners for more than five years.
For quite some time, however, the policeman allegedly turned jealous that made their relationship sour until the councilor decided to part ways with him, investigation showed.
Macabitas said they have recovered the murder weapon which is the cop’s .9mm service pistol. On top of the criminal case filed by the local police here, the La Union provincial police office is also set to file administrative cases against Pascual, he said.
