THE Philippine National Police announced the arrest last June 10, 2021 of one of the alleged accomplices of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) director, Sandra Cam, in the murder two years ago in Manila of Batuan, Masbate vice mayor, Charlie Yuson III.
In a report to higher headquarters, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) regional office in Bicol, said arrested was Batuan vice mayor Nelson Reformoso Cambaya, 58. Cambaya was arrested past 5:00 pm in Malasugui Island, Bgy. Quinapagian, Mercedes, Camarines Norte, by a combined team from the CIDG and the Camarines Norte Police Office. A video of the arrest shown to Pinoy Exposé, showed the policemen arresting Cambaya as dusk started to settle.
Cambaya is among the 7 persons facing arrest for the murder of Yuson in Sampaloc, Manila last October 19, 2019 and for frustrated murder for the serious wounding of Yuson’s companion, Alberto Alforte.
The CIDG also accused Cambaya of being the “leader” of a “newly-identified Cambaya Armed Groups” purportedly involved in “gun-for-hire activities in the province of Masbate.”
Aside from Cam and Cambaya, also ordered arrested are Cam’s son, Marco Martin and the 4 gunmen who killed Yuson, namely: Junel Reyes “Bunso” Gomez; Bradford FuerteSolis; Juanito Bustamante de Luna; and, Rigor Magallanes Dela Cruz.
Despite the evidence against them, the 4 suspects were ordered released by Manila Senior City Assistant Prosecutor Manuel Senados, who was himself murdered by still unknown gunmen also in Manila last July 7, 2020. His case remains unsolved.
The warrants for the suspects’ arrest were issued last April 26, 2021 by Hon. Judge Dinnah Aguila-Topacio of Branch 42, Manila RTC.
The case build-up against the suspects was conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on order of Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary, Menardo Guevarra.
Subsequently, CIDG director, P/MGen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, claimed Sandra “surrendered” to them last April 29, 2021 and was placed under “hospital arrest” at a hospital in Dasmariñas City, Cavite province.
As for Marco Martin, the CIDG is yet to present proof that he is also already under its custody.
Sources, however, claimed that the arrest of Cambaya in Malasugui Island was “staged” by the police, claiming he was brought there first and then “arrested” for the benefit of video cameras.
“There was even no electricity in that place,” the sources, some from the local media, said.
They claim Cambaya’s arrest was to satisfy the order of Chief PNP Guillermo Eleazar to round up all the suspects during his recent visit to the Bicol region.
Meanwhile, even as the police are mum on the status of Marco Martin, all the remaining suspects remain at large and believed under the protection of some powerful people in Bicol.