2 suspects in Salamida slay arrested

A MAJOR breakthrough in the murder of newspaper advertising manager, Gwen Salamida and the serious wounding of his companion, Oliver Perona, at their salon-parlor last August 17, 2021, along Kaingin Road, Bgy. Apolonio Samson, Quezon City.

The initial report reaching Quezon City district director, P/BGen, Antonio Yarra and Philippine National Police (PNP) director general, P/Gen. Guillermo Tolentino Eleazar, said elements from the La Loma Police Station headed by P/Lt. Colonel Tyrone DG Valenzona, arrested the suspects, Nilo Payag Anub and Richard Go Alaba, along Sto. Niño St., Bgy. Commonwealth, Quezon City last September 3, 2021.

Seized from their possession was a .38 caliber revolver, one hand grenade, 2 pieces of ammunition for M203 and an old model, Toyota Corolla, colored silver with plate number TSG-484. The car was believed used by the suspects as their getaway vehicle after the killing of Salamida.

Her death, although not work-related in her capacity as a media worker, was clearly planned and premeditated.

Salamida was a former advertising manager for the Remate tabloid and was also the advertising manager for the Saksi Ngayon tabloid before her death.

The suspects had been waiting for Salamida for some time prior to her arrival at her salon before one of them got inside and shot her at least four times in the head and body while Perona was also shot when he tried to intervene.

Salamida was supposed to celebrate her birthday the following day, August 18, 2021.

The attack drew wide condemnation from the media profession, including the National Press Club (NPC), where Salamida was an active member.

Eleazar had also instructed the QCPD to create a special task group to focus on solving Salamida’s murder.

Unknown to the suspects, the police painstakingly followed a series of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footages that led them to the suspects’ identity and the get-away vehicle.

In one of the footages, the police said the gunman was seen boarding the Toyota Corolla after the shooting near the ‘Floor Center’ branch, Muñoz Market. The vehicle was again seen later in the vicinity of Bgy. Commonwealth in another footage.

Alerted, the police tried to flag down the vehicle but it sped off leading to a brief chase before it was finally cornered and the two suspects arrested.

The development immediately earned praises for the QCPD La Loma Station in particular, and the PNP in general, from the NPC.

Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) executive director, undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, also a former NPC president, said the task group investigating the case is still hunting down another suspect who purportedly masterminded the killing of Salamida.