CITY of SAN FERNANDO — Police arrested Wednesday the alleged gunmen in the Oct 10 killing of former Sta. Rita town councilor Mario de Ausen, less than 24 hours after the crime was committed, during follow up operations in separate areas in Pampanga, setting the record in terms of crime solution by the local police.
Senior Supt. Nicanor Supan Salvador, director of the Pampanga Provincial Police Office (PPO), identified the suspects as Gilbert Aurelio, 45, of San Luis, and son Angelo, 23, of Barangay Tinejero, Bacolor town and Albert Abletes, of Bustos, Bulacan, all alleged members of gun-for-hire gang operating in Central Luzon.
Salvador said the gunmen tagged a certain Paul Sanchez, a businessman engaged in pharmaceutical business, as the brains behind De Ausen’s gun slay.
The Pampanga top cop said investigators got a breakthrough after they have identified the getaway car of the suspects – a red Toyota Innova (NIN 733) – registered under the name of Jocelyn Reyes of Tumana, Marikina, City.
Salvador said his men simultaneously raided the residence of the suspects, leading to their arrest and confiscation of several firearms including automatic machine pistol, caliber 45 and caliber 40 pistols and ammunition for different kind of handguns.
One suspect, Salvador said, admitted to the crime during interrogation.
De Ausen had just left Bacolor Cockpit Arena Wednesday afternoon when tailed by the suspects on his way home. He was shot at point blank range shortly after he alighted from his vehicle to open the gate of his house in Barangay San Matias, Sta. Rita, Pampanga.
The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead on arrival by an attending physician.
Investigators recovered several spent shells at the crime scene.
The suspects were taken to the Provincial Jail as cases of murder and illegal possession of firearms are being readied against them.
Meanwhile, Salvador ordered a manhunt against Sanchez, believed to have gone into hiding after the murder of De Ausen.
It was gathered that Sanchez and De Ausen were business partners whose relationship had gone sour due to money issues.