Region 6’s ‘most wanted’ man arrested

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The top most wanted person in Western Visayas was arrested afternoon of October 6 in Jaro, Iloilo City.

Nonito Castor, Jr., of Barangay Alibunan, Calinog, Iloilo was collared over charges of violations of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) and RA 9516 illegal possession of explosives.

The arrest warrant against him was issued last year.

Major Myles Dieron, Calinog police chief, said that Castor is Iloilo province’s 7th most wanted man and 10th in Calinog town.

The suspect, who worked as a car wash attendant in Barangay Camalig, Jaro, is an alleged member of the Chiva Criminal Gang that operates in Iloilo province.

But apart from his arrest for possession of firearm and hand grenade, Castor has been embroiled in another criminal case.

He was accused of killing his own father, Nonito Castor Sr., at the latter’s house on Feb. 18, 2018.

The then 70-year-old Castor died of three gunshot injuries on the right side of his body and abdomen.

The fight between the father and the son stemmed from the habitual fight between the suspect’s parents.

Castor Sr. and his wife, Merlyn, fought whenever the former was drunk.

Prior to the shooting incident, the couple engaged in a heated argument.

Merlyn later went to her son’s house, around 300 meters away from them, and told the suspect that she again had a fight with his father.

The suspect is the third in a brood of seven children.

Armed with a firearm, the suspect went to his parents’s house and confronted the victim.

But Castor Sr. allegedly brushed off his son’s caution and told him not to meddle in a fight between spouses.

At the time of the incident, the victim was seen brandishing a 10-inch knife.

The younger Castor then warned his father not to go near him or he’ll shoot him.

But thinking that it was just a bluff, he inched closer to the suspect.

At that juncture, the suspect pumped three bullets from his firearm that all hit his father.

The family declined to do an autopsy and also did not pursue charges against the suspect.