Cop ‘killer’ in Negros arrested in Cebu
Authorities arrested on Christmas Eve one of the suspects in the ambush-slay of a police officer in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental.
Jonathan Cotimar Lacadman, 26, a member of the New People’s Army (NPA), was arrested in Barangay Poblacion, Dumanjug town in Southern Cebu by virtue of a warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court in Negros.
Lacadman was pinpointed as one of the suspects in the killing of Police Supt. Arnel Arpon, the chief of the Guihulngan Police in July this year.
Lacadman is also facing 13 other criminal cases - three cases of robbery, five cases of theft, three cases of frustrated murder, one case of multiple murder, and one case of murder.
Senior Supt. Jonathan Cabal, chief of the Regional Intelligence Division, said Lacadman is a regular member of the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines' New People's Army.
“He is a regular member; he doesn't have a particular high-ranking position, but a regular member. If you participate in ambush cases, you are also considered a hitman kasi pumapatay ka,” Cabal said.
Lacadman reportedly pretended to be a construction worker in Dumanjug where he sought refuge with his wife, said Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) -7.
“Hindi regularly staying… on and off sa Dumanjug. Nagkataon na based on reports ay duon naglalagi kaya doon natin na-track siya,” Espino said.
Senior Insp. Philip John Libres, the newly-installed chief of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB), led the operation that led to Lacadman's arrest.
Libres said they traced Lacadman based on tips from the public gathered by the Regional Intelligence Division (RID).
“Tip ng civilian na itong tao na ito ay miyembro ng NPA and we worked with the Regional Intelligence Division to validate, and minanmanan muna natin,” Libres said.
Espino urged the public to send in more tips as 10 suspects in the killing have been identified.
Even with the unilateral ceasefire suspension of military operations in observance of the holidays, Espino reiterated that targethardening measures are done as a defensive stance against communist rebel attacks.
“Ang kapulisan naman have been prepared by possible atrocities that might be committed by the NPA. Naka full alert pa rin tayo. Ang stations natin ay employing target-hardening measures,” Espino said.