Suspected rebel charged with arson

From the Sun Star-Davao (Jul 31): Suspected rebel charged with arson

THE suspected New People's Army (NPA) member who was previously charged for multiple crimes is facing charges anew, this time for burning down a truck owned by a farming company in Calinan, Davao City on January 24.

Facing syndicated arson charges before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Davao City Branch 16 is Roberto Castillote and other unidentified co-members of the NPA's. The Davao City Prosecution Office found probable cause to charge Castillote and the other NPA members based on the complaint filed by security guards of the Davao Agricultural Ventures Corporation identified as Arconcel Agton and Charlie Mandante.

The security guards, in their affidavit, said they saw suspects enter the area where the Game Boom Harvester truck was parked around 6:30 p.m. They tried to stop the three but they were hesitant as they saw around 20 more men including Castillote entering the compound. They then saw the suspects setting the truck ablaze.

The two then informed their supervisor Ricardo Baniquid and proceeded to Baguio police to report the incident. But when they returned, the heavy equipment was totally burned down. The estimated cost of the damage was around P15 million.

RTC Branch 16 Judge Emmanuel Carpio ordered the arrest of Castillote.
Castillote was earlier charged for slight illegal detention for briefly holding seven men and killing one of the captives at Baguio District on March 1, 2013. On the same year, he was accused of murdering a former village chief on September 29 and killing another man on September 5.

He was also accused of detaining three Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) personnel in 2012.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2014/07/31/suspected-rebel-charged-arson-357063