Cops arrest
suspected assassin

A former rebel implicated in the brutal killing of a farmer’s group leader in southern Negros was arrested Sunday by a team of PNP Regional Intelligence Unit 6 in Brgy. Inayawan, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, and is now locked up in jail.

Supt. Caliixto Mabugat, Kabankalan police chief, yesterday identified the arrested suspect as Joel Eslabon, alias Ka Willy.

Mabugat said Eslabon was positively identified by two witnesses as one of the suspects who shot dead Porferio Maglasang, chairperson of the Pambansang Katipunan ng Makabayang Magbubukid, in his own backyard in Sitio Caraan, Brgy. Camansi, Kabankalan City, in April 2006.

A member of the RIU 6, who requested anonymity and participated in the arrest of the suspect, said it was the efforts of the Kabankalan City Police Station, that  led to the unmasking of the real identity of Eslabon, alias Ka Willy, who used to be a member of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army- Alex Boncayao Brigade.

Mabugat, however, withheld the identities of two companions of Eslabon, who are still at-large, pending follow-up operations.

Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles who issued the arrest warrant for murder, also denied bail to Eslabon and his two companions.

Police investigations showed that Maglasang was dragged outside from his residence by the three suspects, and shot in front of his wife and a child, in 2006.

Maglasang died from multiple gunshot wounds.

The Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya-Negros said in an earlier statement that Maglasang was among the leaders of evacuees who fled during the launching of Oplan Thunderbolt by the military in southern Negros, especially in the areas of Sipalay, Cauayan, Candoni, Ilog and Kabankalan.

Before his death, Maglasang and other PKMM members were in a long drawn-out struggle over some 2,000 hectares of cogonal land in the upland areas of Kabankalan City, being tilled by about 1,000 families.

The RIU 6 intelligence operatives headed by Supt. Ronald Alan Gepana immediately turned Eslabon over to the Kabankalan City Police Station.*GPB

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3 facing rob,
rape complaints jailed

The police arrested three suspects facing complaints of rape and robbery, and involved in a shooting incident in Negros Occidental Monday.

Federico Bandiola, 18, was apprehended by PO3 Sulito Babe and PO2 Nancy Dinero in Brgy. Zone 3, Murcia, by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Pheladelfa Agraviador, for two counts of rape.

Robbery-hold-up suspect Jose Bato-batan was arrested by the police in Hacienda Mayo, Brgy. Sicaba, Cadiz City, after he robbed Delfin Gonzales at gunpoint, Chief Inspector Noel Mana-ay said.

Bato-batan had a 12-gauge Armscor shotgun and was hiding in a sugarcane field, when he was cornered and arrested by a team of Cadiz policemen headed by SPO4 Ronaldo Jumayao, Mana-ay, in his report to Senior Supt. Manuel Felix, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, said.

Aside from the shotgun, Mana-ay said they also recovered the P29,000 in cash taken by the suspect from Gonzales.

Chief Insp. Rico Santotome, NOPPO spokesman, said Delfin praised the Cadiz policemen for the immediate arrest of the suspect.

In Hacienda Antolanga, Brgy. Tinongan, Isabela, a suspect in the killing of Mario Trinidad was also arrested by policemen Monday night.

Chief Insp. Romeo Leyte, Isabela police chief, yesterday identified the arrested suspect as Arturo Balbo, 60.

Leyte said an improvised shotgun allegedly used in the shooting of Trinidad was recovered from Balbo, while a spent shell, was discovered by Isabela policemen at the scene of the incident.*GPB

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Task force seizes hot meat

The Task Force Botagoy, headed by City Veterinarian Dr. Adelo Daroy, has confiscated 395.94 kilos of hot meat in different areas of Bacolod City from July 1 to 31.

The task force was created under City Ordinance No. 459, Series of 2008, for the purpose of controlling illegal slaughtering activities in the city.

The report submitted by Daroy to Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia dated Aug. 7, showed that the task force had confiscated 119 kilos of hot meat in Mansilingan, 87.70 kilos in Bata, 69.94 kilos in Montevista, 34.60 kilos in Mandalagan, 28 kilos in Tangub, 18 kilos in Taculing, 17 kilos at the Burgos Market and 12 kilos in Alijis.

Other members of the task force are meat inspector Rex Juplo, SPO1 Willy Perez, PO2 Sergio Sisles, PO1 Jet Homero Pirote and PO1 Julius Dacles.*CGS

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