CORDILLERA police arrested one of the three suspects responsible for the bombing in La Paz, Abra on January 25.
Police nabbed Joel Millare Balucas, 45, farmer, and a resident of Sitio Kiwas, Barangay Pulot, Lagayan, Abra, on September 4 by virtue of a warrant of arrest by joint personnel of Lagayan Municipal Police Station (MPS) and Abra PMFC augmentation personnel led by Police Officer 3 Jimmy Villar.
Baulcas is said to be responsible for the grenade blasts which killed two policemen, including a former Special Action Force survivor of the Mamasapano clash, while Abra Representative Joseph Sto. Niño Bernos and his wife, Mayor Menchie Bernos, and 24 others were injured.
In March this year, Abra Police Provincial Office filed cases of double murder and multiple frustrated murder against three suspects two months later triggering manhunt operations.
Chief Superintendent Rolando Nana, regional director of the Police Regional Office – Cordillera lauded the operating personnel for their accomplishment which speaks well of the police dedication to ensure lasting peace in Abra.
The suspect is now under the custody of Lagayan MPS facing charges for the crime of double murder with multiple attempted murder.
Balucas was supposed to have been arrested on December 13, 2017 for three counts of attempted homicide with use of an unlicensed firearm, but was able to post a bond of P180,000 for each count.