Western Visayas’ Top Fugitive Arrested

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY—A 65-year-old farmer tagged as Western Visayas’ fourth most wanted person for murder was arrested in Barangay 1, Ilog, Negros Occidental, last Friday.

Authorities served an arrest warrant against Junior Villandro of Barangay Tabu.

The arrest warrant with no bail recommended was issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 61 in Kabankalan City on September 30, 2019, based on a report from the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo).

Police Major Joseph Partidas, town police chief, said the suspect was also tagged as the top most wanted person at the provincial and municipal levels because the offense committed is considered a heinous crime.

Partidas said it took years for authorities to locate the suspect.

The suspect’s case stemmed from an incident involving an alleged notorious robbery suspect a few years ago, according to Partidas.

The town police force also tapped the 4th Special Operations Unit (SOU) of the Police Mobile Group, the 604th Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB)-6, the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU)-6, the 2nd Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company (Nocpmfc), and the intelligence unit of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to conduct the operation.