The police yesterday made a breakthrough in its pursuit of a bandit group believed to be behind the killing of a barangay kagawad and a farmer, and also the ambush of Task Force Ilahas personnel in the hinterlands of EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, with the arrest of a suspect, who allegedly supplied them with food, while hiding from authorities.

Supt. Samuel Mina, Task Force 3rd district task, said the arrest of Geron Celeste, who is facing murder charges before the Silay City Regional Trial Court, in Sitio Tabuan, Brgy. San Isidro, EB Magalona, may provide them additional information, to help neutralize the banditry in the hinterlands of the town and in neighboring areas.

While he admitted extending support to a bandit group, some members of which are his relatives, Celeste vehemently denied that he is involved in illegal activities, Mina said.

Celeste was tagged as a suspect in a murder case in Brgy. Guimbalaon in Silay City, three years ago. He was denied bail by Silay RTC Judge Felipe Banzon.

Mina said Celeste was arrested at the suspected safehouse of the bandit group in Sitio Tabuan, Brgy. San Isidro, when they intensified their manhunt operations against armed members of the lawless group.

Mina said the arrest of Celeste may limit the food supply of members of the bandit group, who may then be forced to come out in search for food.

Police investigations also showed that the arrested suspect is reportedly involved in poaching activities in the hinterlands of Brgy. Canlusong, EB Magalona.

Canlusong Kagawad Rolando Lozada was gunned down on July 25 allegedly by members of the bandit group. This was followed by the brutal killing of Lauro Delgado Sr in Brgy. San Isidro, also in EB Magalona, on Aug. 24.

Several barangays officials of Canlusong, who are actively involved in the government anti-timber poaching activities, have fled to the lowlands because of death threats they received from the bandits, police said.*GPB

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