Home 
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Police Officer 2 Clint Cañete was killed for P20,000.
This was the claim of a drug suspect who admitted his involvement on the ambush-slay of the anti-narcotics policeman at the first Mandaue-Mactan bridge last October.
Arnel Montero, 37, said he drove the motorcycle during the attack.
The shooter was from Compostela town, northern Cebu.
He said a detained drug suspect paid his companion P20,000 to kill Cañete.
Paquito Oyao is now detained at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail to face four illegal drugs cases.
In a sworn statement, Montero said he was paid P5,000 for serving as driver during the ambush.
Record at the Lapu-Lapu jail showed that Motero’s companion’s visited Oyao about 11:04 a.m. on October 19, two days before the ambush. The visitor left at 1 p.m.
Cañete was one of the anti-narcotics policemen who arrested Oyao in January last year. Cañete was a member of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force (RAIDSOTF).
Lapu-Lapu police had classified Oyao as a level-two drug pusher, or a person who could dispose at least 200 grams but not more than one kilo of illegal drugs in a week.
Montero, of Compostela town, was arrested with Joseph Barbero, 27, in a buy-bust operation on January 9 at the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City.
Seized were a plastic pack believed to contain shabu and P500 buy-bust money.
During police interrogation, Montero admitted taking part in the killing of Cañete.
Montero, who was assisted by his lawyer Glenn Ronquillo, said he admitted to the crime because he was bothered by his conscience and he pitied the family of Cañete.
“Nalipay ko karon kay nakatabang ko sa pulis og ning gipatay. Naluoy ko ni sir Cañete (I'm glad that I helped the police. I pitied Sir Cañete),” Montero said.
Montero was presented to the media yesterday by Chief Superintendent Ronald Roderos, police director for Central Visayas.
In his statement, Montero said that a day before the crime, his companion went to his house and told him that they had a job in Opon.
It was only when they reached Lapu-Lapu City the next day that he learned that his friend was offered money to kill somebody.
They waited outside the Hall of Justice in Lapu-Lapu City. Montero said his friend told him that they were waiting for the target who was wearing a jacket.
They followed Cañete at the bridge. While cruising down the bridge, the policeman was shot four times.
Montero said they proceeded to Barangay (village) Paknaan, then to Barangay Labogon, Mandaue City and then to Compostela. /Correspondent Chito O. Aragon
