‘Hired killer’ in Ajuy’s most wanted list arrested

By Jennifer P. Rendon

An alleged gun-for-hire was arrested early Sunday morning in Ajuy, Iloilo.

Richard Villanueva, 32, an alleged member of the Bagatnan Gun-for-Hire Group, was collared at his home in Barangay Adcadarao, Ajuy.

Members of Ajuy Police Station and Iloilo Provincial Police Office-Provincial Intelligence Unit served against Villanueva an arrest warrant for two counts of murder docketed as Criminal Case Numbers 2020-9622 and 2020-9623.

Judge Jose Mauricio Gomez of the Regional Trial Court 6 (RTC-6) Branch 71, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo issued the arrest warrant on Oct. 26, 2020.

No bail was set for Villanueva’s temporary liberty.

Lieutenant Danilo Noca, Ajuy police chief, said Villanueva and his co-accused were charged for killing two men on June 21, 2020 at Barangay Tipacla, Ajuy.

Jovel Castor, 40, and Sonny Articuna, 50, were riding on a motorcycle around 6:10 a.m. of that day when two persons waylaid them.

Residents claimed to have heard gun fire and saw two men scampering towards the forested portion of Adcadarao village several minutes later.

Noca said investigation indicated that the two suspects did not personally know the victims.

It was presumed that the suspects may have been hired to kill Castor and Articuna.

Noca said Villanueva is listed as the third most wanted person of Ajuy. He is presently detained at Ajuy Police Station for proper disposition of his case.