Three farm workers, suspects in the killing of a sugar planter in 2013, were arrested yesterday in Brgy. Jerusalem, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.

Nabbed by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Cadiz Regional Trial Court Judge Renato Muñez for the crime of murder were Nelson Loping, 52, and his two younger brothers, Narciso, 43, and Noel, 38.

Chief Inspector Gabriel Gutierrez, commander of the Public Safety Company of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, said the three were involved in the killing of Eriberto Benedicto Jesena, owner of Hacienda Leonor, in Brgy. Fabrica, Sagay City, on Nov. 15, 2013.

Police investigations showed that a heated argument between Jesena and the suspects, who were his workers, allegedly triggered the killing.

A composite team of the 2nd Platoon, PSC of NOPPO, headed by Senior Inspector Lawrence Gerald Bathan, Sagay police headed by Inspector Joevito Bose, and Inspector Vernabe Gallardo of the Special Action Force of the PNP, served the arrest warrant to the Loping brothers.

Gutierrez said two other suspects in the killing of Jesena, identified as brothers Ronel and Nicasio Loping, are still at-large.

Investigations by the Sagay police showed that Nelson shot the victim in the head, and the other suspects hacked him.

The arrested suspects are now detained at the Sagay police jail.*GPB

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