Ex-rebel linked to Binalbagan ambush arrested

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — A 25-year-old man accused of involvement in an ambush that wounded two policemen and a teenage bystander in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, in 2022 was arrested last week in Himamaylan City.

Police served an arrest warrant for frustrated murder against the suspect, identified only as alias “Jim,” a laborer from Barangay Biao, Binalbagan, who later relocated to Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City.

The Regional Trial Court Branch 55 in Himamaylan City issued the warrant on June 27, 2023, with bail set at PHP 200,000.

Himamaylan City Police Station chief Lt. Col. Anthony Grande said Jim was initially arrested for a separate case before being served the ambush-related warrant.

The suspect is an alleged former member of Squad 1, SDG Platoon, Mt. Cansermon Command, Central Negros 2 under the Komiteng Rehiyon–Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor (KR–NCBS).

Police said Jim was linked to the February 2022 ambush in Barangay Biao, where 10 police officers on board a patrol car were en route to investigate a death report when they were attacked.

The attack resulted in an exchange of gunfire, injuring two officers and a teenage civilian.

Grande said additional arrest warrants were served to Jim, although he did not provide details.

In 2023, two other alleged rebels tied to the same ambush were arrested in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City.