MANILA -- Police on Sunday apprehended one of the suspects in the killing of then Sta. Rosa, Laguna mayor Leon Arcillas after several years of hiding.

Laguna Police Provincial Director Manuel Labador said joint elements of the Laguna Provincial Police Office, the Police Regional Office 4 Regional Intelligence Division and the Lucban Municipal Police Station nabbed Daniel Yason Beato alias Ace at 12:20 Sunday at Greenville Subdivision, Barangay Ayuti, Lumban, Laguna.

Labador said the suspect was the subject of a warrant for direct assault with murder issued by Laguna Regional Trial Court Branch 25 Judge Teodoro Solis in connection with Arcillas’ killing in 2005.

The court has earlier recommended no bail for the suspect.

Labador said the suspect’s arrest came after several weeks of intensive surveillance operation as well as tips from concerned citizens.

It will be recalled that Arcillas was shot and killed by three unidentified gunmen shortly after officiating a mass wedding at the Sta. Rosa town hall.

Arcillas succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds while one of his security escorts, PO2 Ariel Rivera of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force was also killed in the attack.

Another bodyguard, identified as PO2 Nonoy Almendras, was critically injured. (AH/Sunnex)