PHILIPPINE National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Chief Supt. Samuel D. Pagdilao, Jr. yesterday announced the capture of the principal suspect in the killing of Marcelino Yap, a top Bureau of Internal Revenue official in Antipolo City, last February.

Pagdilao said Armando Carino alias “Manding” is now undergoing interrogation at the headquarters of the CIDG Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit 4-A in Camp Vicente Lim in Laguna.

Carino was positively identified by witnesses as the gunman of Yap, the 46-year-old regional officer of BIR District 45 in Antipolo City.

The suspected hired killer was arrested by agents of the RCIDU4-A and the Rizal Police Provincial Office under Senior Supt. Manuel Prieto.

Pagdilao said they had long been hot on the trail of Carino, who went into hiding after the killing of Yap.

Yap had just been dropped off by his driver and bodyguard and was walking to his office on Marcos Highway, Antipolo City when he was shot at close range by the suspect.

He died on the spot from five gunshot wounds.

Pagdilao said Cariño was tracked down by CIDG agents through his nephew, Andy Cariño, a security guard who owned the Honda motorcycle used in the ambush-slaying.

CIDG investigators found out that the motorcycle was bought and being paid for by the elder Cariño but was registered in the name of his nephew.

Pagdilao said his men also discovered that Cariño was charged with illegal possession  of firearms in February 2008.

With the suspect’s arrest, the CIDG can now focus its investigation on the motive and probable mastermind in the killing of Yap.