BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
ILOILO – The province’s most wanted person was finally arrested after eight years of hiding from the police.
The 27-year-old Ronilo Jimenez, a murder suspect, was cornered inside his house in Brgy. Cunsad, Janiuay town around 6 a.m. yesterday.
Since 2007, Jimenez had been hiding in his hometown in Tapaz, Capiz, said Senior Insp. Charlie Sustento who led the personnel of the 2nd Mobile Company in arresting the suspect.
The police recently learned that Jimenez was in Janiuay where his wife was staying.
The suspect has a pending arrest warrant for murder issued by Judge Delfin Lim of the Regional Trial Court dated August 14, 2007.
Jimenez had been charged with hacking his former employer, Hilario Celestial, a village councilor of Brgy. Poblacion, Bingawan, Iloilo on April 30, 2007.
Celestial succumbed to multiple hack wounds.
A reward of P20,000 from the municipality of Bingawan was raised for information leading to the suspect’s arrest.
According to Bingawan’s Mayor Matt Palabrica, when he assumed office as chief executive of their town in May 2007, they agreed to give a reward for the arrest of Jimenez.
Police sources said that after killing Celestial, Jimenez hid in Brgy. Taganghin, Tapaz and worked as a house helper but later left after as he was suspected of committing another murder.
No bail has been recommended for Jimenez’s temporary liberty.
Iloilo police director, Senior Supt. Cornelio Salinas congratulated his men for the arrest.
“The cooperation and information given by the community to our policemen resulted to the successful operation,” Salinas said.
Early this month, the Police Regional Office 6 urged the public to help policemen find the most wanted persons in Western Visayas. It came out with a huge tarpaulin with the photos of the fugitives.
“This initiative would be an effective tool in informing the public about those run away from the law, and alerting police as well as the public on the presence of wanted persons in their communities,” explained Chief Supt. Josephus Angan, regional police director.
Three of the 20 most wanted persons in the region were eventually arrested – murder suspects Cirilo Cambel, 49, of Brgy. Sto. Rosario, San Miguel, Iloilo; Remigio Jordan of Brgy. Cannery, Polomolok, South Cotabato; and Noel Ayalin alias Kalbo of Silay City, Negros Occidental.
In Manila, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Alan Purisima stressed the importance of arresting fugitives from justice.
“Our operational thrust against wanted persons is being pursued without letup by PNP units,” Purisima said.
He stressed the PNP’s “keen resolve” to “ensure successful prosecution of criminal offenders including those in cold cases.”/PN
