Antique’s top wanted man falls

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Three decades after staging an ambush that led to the killing of 12 persons, Antique province’s most wanted person was arrested late evening of May 17, 2021.

Diosdado Belario, 48, was arrested at his residence in Gawad Kalinga Village in Brangay Pulong, Sta. Cruz, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna

Members of the Antique Police Provincial Office-Provincial Intelligence Unit (APPO-PIU), Regional Intelligence Unit 6 (RIU-6), Sebaste Police Station, and Sta. Rosa Police Station collared Belario by virtue of an arrest warrant for multiple murder and multiple attempted murder.

Judge Josefina Muego of the Regional Trial Court Branch 13 in Culasi, Antique issued the arrest warrants on Jan. 25, 2021.

No bail was recommended for his temporary liberty.

Belario was a former member of the New People’s Army (NPA) and went by the names of Langgo and David.

Their group used to operate in the provinces of Iloilo and Antique.

The case against him stemmed from an ambush that he and 10 others allegedly perpetrated on July 31, 1990 at Barangay Bacalan, Sebaste, Antique.

The incident led to the death of the now defunct Integrated National Police (INP) station commander and 11 civilians.

The victims were navigating the area on board an INP patrol jeep when ambushed.

Of the 11 suspects who were charged for the incident, six were already arrested, two died, and three remain at large.

Belarus is now detained at Sta. Rosa Municipal Police Station in Laguna and will be turned over to the court concerned.