Capalla murder case: RPA-ABB member named suspect

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged member of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) was tagged in the killing of Romeo Capalla, a former NPA leader and brother of Davao Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla.

The special investigation task group Capalla (SITGC), in a press conference yesterday, identified the suspect as 30-year-old Julie Cabino, with aliases Jojo Cabino and Jojo Cabarles, who was a resident of Leon town in Iloilo.

Cabino was allegedly one of the two gunmen who killed Capalla at a public market in Oton town of Iloilo two weeks ago, according to Chief Inspector Joseph Euje Almaquer, SITGC spokesperson.

Almaquer however clarified that Cabino's gun was not the one that killed Capalla. "His gun jammed after he fired it at Capalla," he said, adding that three witnesses issued an affidavit naming Cabino one of the suspects.

A murder charge was filed at the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutors Office against Cabino yesterday and four other John Does.

While reports claimed that Cabino was a member of the RPA-ABB group, Almaquer said they could not confirm Cabino's group affiliation. "We just based on facts. We have witnesses who identified and testified that he is the suspect and that's enough for us to file a case against him," he said.

In a police blotter report dated December 30, 2011, Cabino was identified as a member of the RPA-ABB-Nilo de la Cruz faction. He was accused of frustrated murder when he allegedly shot and wounded Reynald Flores, 28, of Tigbauan, Iloilo.

Flores was hit on the left buttock, but the case did not prosper after the two parties reached an amicable settlement.

Although investigators said Cabino was not confirmed an RPA-ABB member, they claimed that motive will be known as the probe progresses. But if found that he was a member of the RPA-ABB, it could only be surmised that retaliation could be the motive of the killing of Capalla, who was a ranking leader of the NPA in Panay.

Capalla became an inactive NPA leader and became board chairman of the Panay Fair Trade Center, which sells natural and organic products like muscovado sugar and ginger tea for local and international markets.

Capalla was not deemed a rebel returnee because he did not surrender to the government. His death may be linked to the killing of Demetrio Capilastique, another leader of the RPA-ABB, in December last year. A few days later, the NPA owned up to the murder of Capilastique. (FREEMAN)