Cops nab suspect in murder of N. Cotabato town agriculturist

COTABATO CITY – The long arm of the law has finally caught up with a man who hid for more than six months after allegedly killing the municipal agriculture officer of Arakan, North Cotabato.

Citing a spot report from the Arakan municipal police office, Supt. Bernard Tayong, speaking for the North Cotabato police office, identified the suspect as Cesar Mangawan, allegedly a gun-for-hire.

Mangawan shot dead Edgar Araña, the Arakan town agriculturist in November last year, Tayong said, adding that the suspect managed to elude authorities by hiding in the village of Perez, in Kidapawan City with his live-in partner.

A tip from a concerned citizen led to his arrest Monday, police said.

Mangawan did not resist when members of Kidapawan City police arrested him, but vehemently denied any involvement in the crime.

“This is a lesson for crime offenders that they can sometimes evade the law, but they cannot evade the law forever,” Tayong said.

Mangawan, accompanied by his live-in partner, was already turned over to the Arakan municipal police office. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)

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