Sunday, January 07, 2007 Police sue 6 persons for town mayor’s slay in 2005
THE PNP has filed criminal charges against six suspects in the killing of Sta. Rosa City Mayor Leon Arcillas right inside the City hall two years ago.
Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) police director, said the cases were filed before the Sta. Rosa Prosecutor’s Office which is expected to conduct a preliminary investigation against the suspects.
Radovan identified those charged with two counts of murder and frustrated murder as gunmen Herminigildo Vibal, Jr. and Arnold David; backup triggerman Cipriano Refrea Jr.; Ricardo Pineda; Edwin Barqueros; and Daniel Yason.
Radovan said the charges were filed based on the testimony of some witnesses, including Arcillas’ police escort, who was wounded in the attack, Police Officer 3 Wilfredo Almendras. Vibal, David and Refreca have already been arrested while the rest are still at large.
Almendras positively identified Vibal and David as the ones who shot them on May 10, 2005 at the second floor of the City Hall while Refrea was identified by Arcillas’ driver as the one who acted as lookout.
According to Radovan, Refrea implicated Pineda, Barqueros and Yason during interrogation. The police official said Refrea told investigators that the three were the ones who mapped out the killing.
Radovan claimed that all those charged are members of the Royal Gangsta group which is engaged in gunrunning. But Radovan said they are still conducting a follow-up investigation to pin down the mastermind.
Investigators earlier said the killing of Arcillas in the City Hall compound was politically motivated. Also killed in the attack was one of the mayors security escorts, Police Officer 2 Edwin Rivera. (VR/Sunnex)
