THE Regional Trial Court in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija has ordered the release of Adell Roll Milan, the suspect arrested for the killing of Catholic priest Richmond Nilo, saying his apprehension was a case of mistaken identity.

Authorities have arrested a certain Omar Mallari, who has been identified as the alleged gunman who shot Nilo dead on June 10.

He is now the primary suspect in the murder of Nilo and subject of the Special Investigation Task Group Nilo.

Mallari is the suspected leader of the "bulik" criminal group, which is engaged in gun-for-hire activities and robbery in the provinces of Pampanga and Nueva Ecija.

He was arrested in his residence in Barangay Arenas, Arayat, Pampanga, over the weekend by a joint team of operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group III, Nueva Ecija police and Pampanga Provincial Safety Company.

Pampanga Police Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Nicolas Salvador said a warrant of arrest was issued on April 17, 2018 against Mallari for robbery with intimidation of person.

The warrant was issued by Judge Mary Jane B. Dacara-Buenaventura of RTC Branch 43 in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Bail was recommended at P200,000.

In an order issued Thursday, June 28, RTC Branch 27 Judge Angelo Perez granted the urgent motion of the acting provincial prosecutor Eddie C. Gutierrez to withdraw the case against Milan.

The court also ordered Milan’s immediate release from the custody of the Provincial Intelligence Branch.