BACOLOD City – A suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) facing a string of criminal charges was arrested on Wednesday in Barangay General Luna, Sagay City, Negros Occidental.
Chief Inspector Antonio Benitez Jr., Sagay City police chief, identified the suspect as Ricky Cañete, a resident of the same barangay.
Cañete faces two murder charges and a frustrated homicide charge.
For the murder cases, the court did not grant him a bail bond.
He was arrested after an informant tipped the Sagay City police on his whereabouts.
Cañete was a suspected member of the NPA’s Negros Guerrilla Front who was among those who entered Hacienda Aliwanay, Barangay General Luna, Sagay City in May 2016.
The rebels burned the site, and this resulted in the death of two farmers, Dionisio Ybanez, 41 and Jose Pios, 50.
Ybanez and Pios were members of the Aliwanay Farm Workers Association who have acquired ownership of the land in Hacienda Aliwanay under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
Authorities believe land conflict was the motive behind the attack.
During the burning incident, two members of the Philippine Army’s Special Civilian Auxiliay, Sonny Respundo and Jovito Lutrago, were wounded, police said.
Cañete was detained at the Sagay police station./PN
