Cops file charges vs. 4 alleged NPA assassins

From the Visayan Daily Star (Dec 11): Cops file charges vs. 4 alleged NPA assassins

The four suspects intercepted at a checkpoint in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, and tagged by an Army official as alleged assassins of the New People's Army, are now facing charges in court, after their arrest and the recovery of firearms from two of them.

Supt. Rhea Santos, Kabankalan City police chief, yesterday said that two of the four suspects identified as Wendell Morales and Ronnie de la Cruz, were charged for violation of RA 10591, or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.

The two others identified as Ariel Rivera and Joelito Medes are also facing charges for resistance and disobedience to an agent of a person of authority, for trying to flee and evade the checkpoints, Santos said.

The arrest of Morales, 21, of Brgy. Baclao, Sipalay City; and de la Cruz, 19, of Brgy. Patag, Silay City, yielded a .45 caliber pistol and a .38 caliber revolver with ammunition.

Lt. Col. Darry Banes, 62nd Infantry Battalion commander, earlier disclosed that based on testimonies of former rebels, the four arrested suspects are NPA hitmen.

But Santos said they are still digging into their backgrounds as they come from different places, in one company, and travelling with guns at almost midnight on Thursday last week, on board a single motorcycle.

Santos said Morales and dela Cruz are now locked up at the custodial facility of the Kabankalan City Police Station, while Rivera and Medes were released from police custody in compliance with an order issued by the court.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2017/December/11/topstory4.htm