BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – One of the suspects in the Pamplona, Negros Oriental massacre gunned down in a police hot pursuit operation has been identified by the Special Joint Task Force (SJTF)-Negros yesterday.
The suspect was Arnil Libradilla of Bindoy, Negros Oriental.
SJTF-Negros spokesperson Philippine Army Major Cenon Pancito III said Libradilla was a former member of the New People’s Army.
Pancito said Libradilla’s identity was provided to them by the other arrested suspects.
On March 4, hours after Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others were killed, a police-military composite team was able to locate the suspect hiding in a sugar plantation.
Libradilla opened fire against the authorities, Pancito said.
Three other suspects were arrested earlier that day. They were Joric Labrador, Joven Javier and Benjie Rodriguez.
Another two suspects, Osmundo Rivero and Rickyvelle Luces, were arrested the following day, March 5.
Four of the suspects were former soldiers of the Philippine Army while Luces was formerly a Philippine Marine.
Labrador, Javier, Rodriguez, and Rivero have since turned state witnesses and are currently being held at Camp Crame in Metro Manila for their safety.
However, all of the suspects are facing multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder, and illegal possession of firearms charges./PN
