‘RPA-ABB member’ in gun-for-hire racket nabbed for murder, hot gun raps

By Jennifer P. Rendon

An alleged member of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) wanted for a string of charges was arrested evening of August 17 at Janiuay, Iloilo.

Noel Cafe, 60, of Barangay Pamuringao Garrido, was cornered at his friend’s house in Tambal village, Janiuay around 9:40 p.m. on Thursday.

Members of Janiuay Municipal Police Station, together with Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Special Operations Group (IPPO SOG), IPPO Provincial Intelligence Unit, and 603rd Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RFMB) 6, served two arrest warrants against Cafe.

He is facing a case for murder docketed as Criminal Case No. 18-82826.

Judge Jose Mauricio Gomez of the Regional Trial Court in Iloilo City issued the arrest warrant on Oct. 2, 2018.

No bail was set for his temporary liberty.

Cafe is also a respondent in a case for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) under CC No. 21-1118.

Judge Redentor Eugenio Esperanza of RTC Branch 76 in Janiuay, Iloilo issued the arrest warrant on Oct. 25, 2021.

Bail for his temporary liberty for his first case was fixed at P120,000.

Captain Alwin Salmon, Janiuay police chief, said that the suspect has maintained his silence following his arrest.

“He declined to give out his identity and other circumstances,” he said.

But Salmon said intelligence reports had it that the suspect is a member of the RPA-ABB and is also engaged in gun-for-hire activities.

The murder case happened in Cafe’s hometown Cabatuan.

Salmon said the suspect has reportedly other pending cases in Iloilo province.