Rebel tagged in ex-mayor’s murder nabbed after 33 years

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

One of the suspects in the killing of a former mayor of Culasi town in Antique was arrested 33 years after the crime happened.

Romeo Fernando, who also goes by the names Sunny and Rolly Fernando, was collared at Batong Buhay, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro 12 p.m. of Jan. 9, 2020.

Several police units joined forces to arrest Fernando – PNP Regional Intelligence Unit 6 (RIU-6), RIU 4-B, Sablayan Municipal Police Station, Culasi Municipal Police Station, Antique Provincial Intelligence Section, Mindoro Provincial Mobile Force Company, and the AFP Military Intelligence Battalion.

His arrest was also done in coordination with the Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC).

Fernando is a rebel who used to be with the now defunct Northern Front Committee, Komite Rehiyon-Panay, Regional Party Committee (NFC, KR-P, PRPC).

Fernando is reportedly active with the Leonardo de Guzman Command based in Mindoro Occidental area, particularly in Sablayan town.

He was arrested for the killing of former mayor Paterno Javier Sr., of Culasi on June 4, 1986. He and six others were charged for murder in Criminal Case No. 3474.

Judge Niovady Marin of Regional Trial Court 6 (RTC-6) Branch 13, Culasi, Antique issued the arrest warrant on Feb. 17, 1994.

Two of his companions were arrested in November and December 2019.

Police reports said that Fernando has another arrest warrant for multiple murder.

However, due to clerical error of his name, the warrant needs to be amended.

Meanwhile, Fernando is now detained at the Sablayan Municipal Police Station in Occidental Mindoro for proper disposition of his case.