JEDDAH/RIYADH, 17 February 2008 — The brother of the Filipino driver who was killed and beheaded by a compatriot in Riyadh yesterday welcomed the arrest of the suspect and hoped that justice would be rendered in no time.
Jonathan Montecino said the killing of his brother Mitchel Joseph Montecino has deprived the victim’s wife and three children of a breadwinner.
“I’m shocked by the extreme cruelty inflicted on my brother,” said Jonathan, who is also working in the Kingdom. He declined to say where he is based for security reasons.
Vice Consul Roussel Reyes of the Philippine Embassy identified the suspect as Pancho Toronoyba, who, police said has admitted to stabbing the victim to death on Feb. 13 due to a quarrel.
Police in Riyadh’s Sulaimaniya District arrested Toronayba two hours after he was seen dumping the victim’s body at a garbage box. Reyes, citing a police report, said the suspect dumped the body at a garbage bin somewhere in Sulaimaniya and the severed head in Malaz, far away from the crime site.
Police have yet to determine the suspect’s motive in killing his colleague, who started working in Riyadh only six months ago, Reyes said.
Toronayba was said to have worked with his employer also as a driver for over 21 years. The suspect was taken yesterday to the prosecutor’s office, Reyes said.
