Saturday, August 18, 2007 La Libertad ambush-slay suspect nabbed By Victor L. Camion
ONE of the four suspects in La Libertad ambush-slay was nabbed by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Makati City and was presented to the media Friday.
The suspect, William Paunilian, of Manluminsag, La Libertad was presented by Police Provincial Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe and Ronald Roderos, regional deputy director for administration in Central Visayas, during the press conference in connection with the 16th Philippine National Police (PNP) Recognition Day held at Police Provincial Headquarter in Agan-an, Sibulan.
Roderos personally congratulated the CIDG-National Capital Region, represented by Police Inspector Marcelino Robles, for the immediate arrest of the most wanted person in Central Visayas.
The Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Guihulngan City has recently issued warrants of arrest against Fernando Dorimon alias Boy, Wilfredo Aurellano alias Fregie, Tikyo Manait, and Paunilian.
Judge Mario Trinidad of RTC Branch 64 in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, recommended no bail for the suspects.
Reward
Buenafe said the local government of La Libertad will give P50,000 reward money to the informer who will help the police for the immediate arrest of one of the suspects.
La Libertad Mayor Lawrence Limkaichong confirmed that their town has allotted P200,000 for the informer’s reward in the arrest of the four principal suspects of the March 2007 ambush that killed seven people and wounded five other persons.
Paunilian, Dorimon, Aurellano, and Manait, together with Sandalo Mongolore alias Randy, are facing charges of multiple-murder and multiple frustrated murder in the ambush-slaying of barangay chief Lydio Baylon and six others on March 9, 2007 in Barangay Manluminsag, La Libertad.
Mongolore is now in jail at the Negros Oriental Detention and Rehabilitation Center (NODRC) after he was arrested in a checkpoint in Bindoy town for illegal possession of firearms few weeks after the ambush.
Not hiding
Paunilian, on the other hand, clarified that he was not hiding.
He told media that he left La Libertad two months ago to find job in Manila. That time, he said, there was no warrant of arrest issued against him.
He denied all allegations against him and denied participation of the ambush.
Paunilian, however, expressed willingness to disclose all he knew against the other suspects in the proper forum.
CIDG-NCR director Robles said Paunilian was arrested August 13, 2007 in a conducted Oplan Pagtugis at Sacred Heart Street, Makati City.
Robles brought the suspect in Negros Oriental Friday.
Police chief Buenafe said Paunilian will be turned over to the court origin in Guihulngan City and will be detained at the Negros Oriental Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Dumaguete City.
