CEBU CITY, Philippines — Police have arrested the alleged gunman and two other suspects in the kidnapping and killing of a 57-year-old man whose body was found in a mountainous area of Barangay Sudlon 1, Cebu City.
Authorities identified the victim as Leo Leaño, a resident of Barangay Nangka in Consolacion, Cebu. His hands and feet were bound with chicken cord when his body was discovered along a road in Sitio Morga on September 3.
Alleged Gunman Arrested After Two Suspects Named Him
The alleged gunman, 31-year-old e-bike driver John Elvis Catantan Gutobat, was arrested by personnel of Malubog Police Station 12 in Barangay Basak Pardo on the evening of September 6.
According to police, Gutobat allegedly admitted that he shot Leaño twice after being offered P10,000 for the killing. He allegedly claimed that the order came through a contact linked to an individual using the alias “Shaun,” whom he said was communicating from inside the Cebu City Jail.
Police have not publicly established the identity of the person allegedly behind the order, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Two Other Suspects Were Arrested Earlier
Gutobat’s arrest came after police apprehended two other alleged participants on September 5.
A 30-year-old e-bike driver, identified in reports by the alias “Ritchie,” was arrested in Barangay Ermita at around 3 a.m. Police said he was allegedly involved in planning the crime and purchasing the cord used to bind the victim.
A second suspect, a 49-year-old former seaman known as “Ace,” was arrested in Barangay Cogon Pardo at around 5 a.m. Police said he allegedly drove the rented vehicle used during the crime.
According to police accounts cited by SunStar, Ace allegedly received P8,500, while Ritchie allegedly received P7,000 in connection with the crime.
GPS Tracking and Bloodstains Helped Police Trace Suspects
Investigators said the suspects were identified through a combination of witness information, backtracking and GPS data from a rented Mitsubishi Mirage G4 sedan allegedly used in the crime.
Police recovered the vehicle and found what they described as bloodstains inside.
GPS data reportedly showed the vehicle travelling from Consolacion through several areas in Metro Cebu before reaching Barangay Sudlon 1, where Leaño’s body was eventually found.
The tracking operation became a crucial part of the investigation and helped authorities reconstruct the alleged route taken before the killing.
Victim Allegedly Attacked Inside the Vehicle
Based on the suspects’ statements to investigators, Leaño was allegedly attacked while inside the vehicle.
Police said the victim was reportedly struck in the head with a hammer after he repeatedly shouted while the group was travelling.
He was later taken to Sitio Morga in Barangay Sudlon 1, where Gutobat allegedly shot him twice, according to the latest police account.
The allegations have not yet been tested in court.
Police Looking Into Land Dispute and Possible Revenge
Investigators are examining several possible motives behind the killing.
One angle involves a possible land dispute, while police are also investigating whether the victim may have had other personal conflicts or enemies.
One suspect also raised the possibility that the crime could have been connected to an alleged past incident involving Leaño in Samar, although police have not announced a final motive or publicly confirmed that this was connected to the killing.
Authorities are continuing to investigate who may have allegedly ordered the crime.
Suspect Says He Regrets Joining the Crime
According to the SuperBalita Cebu report, Gutobat expressed regret over his alleged involvement and said he was motivated by money.
The arrest of the alleged gunman came after the two earlier suspects reportedly provided investigators with information identifying him.
Police said their continuing follow-up operations led to the arrest of all three suspects now in custody.
Kidnapping With Murder Charges Planned
The Cebu City Police Office said it was preparing to file Kidnapping with Murder charges against the arrested suspects.
Police continue to investigate the alleged mastermind and other individuals who may have participated in planning or ordering the crime.
The arrests mark a major breakthrough in the investigation, which moved quickly from the discovery of Leaño’s body to the arrests of the alleged driver, suspected planner and alleged gunman within days.
But one major question remains unanswered: Who ultimately ordered the killing — and why?
For now, police are working to trace the alleged chain of communication and determine whether more people could face charges in connection with the brutal kidnapping and murder of the Consolacion resident.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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