Camp Ruperto K. Kangleon, Palo, Leyte, December 14, 2012 – Manhunt operation teams of Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) arrested four persons, with three facing murder charges, who are considered as dangerous in separate operations in Samar, Northern Samar and Southern Leyte provinces the past few days.
Eastern Visayas police director Chief Superintendent ELMER RAGADIO SORIA said the arrests were made so that suspects will face the crimes they have committed and to ensure that justice would be served to their victims.
“Special teams of police trackers have been deployed to go after these wanted persons aside from the Regional Special Operations Group or RSOG,” SORIA said.
SORIA added that continuing manhunt operations will be mounted in 2013 to account for more criminal offenders wanted by the law.
In Southern Leyte, murder suspect Joseph Apatan Aluta, 39, farmer, married, was nabbed by elements of Hinunangan Police Station in his hide-out in Brgy. Toptop in the morning if December 12.
Aluta was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant in Criminal Case No. 2120 at Regional Trial Court Branch 26 in San Juan, Southern Leyte.
Judge Altone M Miralles did not recommend any bailbond for the temporary liberty of the suspect who was considered the Number 6 Most Wanted Person of Hinunangan.
Earlier, in the morning December 10, manhunt operations by same Tracker Team in Brgy. Labrador of same town, Wilfredo Ambos Cantere alias Will, 46, farmer and the Number 5 Most Wanted Person of said town, was arrested also for murder charges.
The team was clothed with an arrest warrant issued also by Judge Altone M Miralles of RTC Branch 26 in San Juan, Southern Leyte in Criminal Case 2118 with no bail recommendation.
In Brgy. Lapaz, San Jorge, Samar, tracker team arrested a village councilor wanted for murder and ranked Number 6 most wanted person of said town.
Romulo Reyes de la Cruz Reyes alias “Mulo”, 61, of Brgy Gerali, Gandara, Samar was nabbed in the morning of December 11 based on a warrant for his arrest issued by Judge Feliciano P Aguilar of RTC Branch 41, Gandara, Samar.
De la Cruz is facing charges in criminal case number 12-0545 with no recommended bailbond.
In Northern Samar, Ruel Cascano y Laurora, 29, single, jobless was arrested in his residence in Brgy Zone 1, Poblacion, Victoria town in the early morning of December 10.
Cascano is ranked number 7 in the list of Most Wanted Persons in Victoria, Northern Samar and wanted for the crime of Qualified Theft in Criminal Case No. A-2522.
Judge Manuel F Torrevillas of RTC Branch 23 in Allen, Northern Samar recommended ?24,000.00 bailbond for his temporary liberty.
SORIA added that the arrested suspects were turned-over to respective courts of origin for proper disposition.