An alleged mastermind in the robbery and brutal killing of two teenage house helpers, one of whom was raped in March last year in Bacolod City, was apprehended yesterday by policemen in Brgy. Purisima, Manapla, Negros Occidental.

Inspector Julius Caesar Colado, Manapla police chief, yesterday identified the arrested suspect as Ruben Evangelista, 43, who is facing charges for robbery with multiple homicide.

Colado said Bacolod Regional Trial Court Judge Anita Guanzon-Chua, who issued the arrest warrant, also denied bail for Evangelista, who ranks number one in the list of most wanted persons in Manapla.

Evangelista,  Jestoni Carlo del Prado and his cousin, Jesus Niepes, who are now in jail, were tagged as suspects in the killing of house helpers Joyce Boncaya,17, and Keen Malunes,16, in Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod City, last year.

Del Prado claimed that Evangelista, who used to work as a cook of the victims’ employer, Aleph Esparagoza, was the mastermind, who had commissioned him and Niepes to rob the residence of the Esparagoza in March 18 last year.

He added that it was Evangelista who led them inside the house of Esparagoza.

The arrest of Evangelista by members of the Manapla police was made about 10 months after the commission of the crime in Bacolod City.

Five suspects in rape, attempted rape and serious physical injuries were also arrested by the police in Brgys. Calumanggan and