Crime group leader, 3 members killed

The body of Arnold Cuadra was retrieved at a river bank in Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City on Saturday, January 8. (Police Station 4 Photo)
The body of Arnold Cuadra was retrieved at a river bank in Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City on Saturday, January 8. (Police Station 4 Photo)

Four alleged members of a crime group, including their leader, were killed and their bodies were later found in the cities of Bago and Bacolod, and Murcia town.

At about 11 p.m. on Friday, January 7, a group of armed men on board an L300 van and Toyota Innova arrived at Villa Homes Subdivision, Barangay Vista Alegre in Bacolod City, Police Station 7 commander Captain Elmer Bonilla said.

Bonilla said the men then barged into the rented house of Jhundelle Rafols, 25, and his cousin Leonil Rafols, 26, Rene Boy Dacillo, “alias Kogan,” 30, and Arnold Cuadra, “alias Aki,” 30.

Cuadra was able to escape and attempted to cross the river going to Villa Angela Subdivision at the adjacent Barangay Villamonte, however, the suspects followed and shot him while his companions were abducted by the suspects, he added.

Police Station 4 commander Major Ritchie Gohee said Cuadra was later found dead at the riverbank near the Villa Angela Subdivision with multiple gunshot wounds around 7:45 a.m. Saturday, January 8.

Earlier on that day, the Rafols were also found dead at the sugarcane plantation in Purok Josefa in Barangay Blumentritt, Murcia town also with gunshot wounds.

Jhundelle was found lying face down with both of his hands tied while his cousin, Leonil, was found half naked, Lieutenant Frankie Paciente, deputy chief of Murcia Municipal Police Station, said.

Paciente said that nearby residents claimed that they heard several gunshots and saw an unidentified vehicle leaving the area before the discovery of the victims’ bodies at about 6:30 a.m.

Meanwhile, Dacillo was found with multiple gunshot wounds at about 1 a.m. at Purok Malipayon in Barangay Atipuluan, Bago City also on Saturday.

Lieutenant Joseph Jaro, deputy chief for operations of Bago City City Police Station, said that Dacillo who was earlier named “Mister X” died on his way to a hospital.

Investigation showed that the victims belong to a group led by Cuadra whose operation included illegal drug trade, robbery and holdup incidents in Bacolod City and other areas.

In fact, Cuadra has three arrest warrants for violation of Republic Act 9165 and another for robbery, Bonilla said, adding that policemen of Stations 4 and 7 in Bacolod Bago and that of Bago City and Murcia are now pooling their efforts to resolve the killings.

However, he admitted that it would be difficult as the group has other adversaries.

Bonilla noted receiving reports that Cuadra and his cohorts are allegedly threatening their members who want to bolt out from their group.

Witnesses or individuals who may have knowledge to the crime are encouraged to come out to hasten the ongoing investigation.

With the death of Cuadra, the police believed that their group has already been dismantled.*

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