Man wanted for arson in Bohol arrested here

A man who is wanted for an arson case that took place ten years ago in the province of Bohol finally fell into the hands of the Minglanilla police last Saturday afternoon.

Pablito Librea, 38, has a standing warrant of arrest in the sala of judge Ermazita Basamayor of the Regional Trial Court Branch 52 in Talibon town, Bohol, after being accused of burning a hut full of newly-harvested corn owned by a certain Paulino Avergonzado in Dagohoy town, Bohol, in 1996.

SPO1 Florante Capangpangan of the Minglanilla police said a concerned citizen called up the police station and informed them that Librea was wanted for an arson case in Bohol.

Capangpangan also said that the informant told him that the suspect can be found at the Tabunok public market were he sells charcoal.

After the police were able to secure a warrant of arrest for Librea they immediately went to the Tabunok public market yesterday afternoon and arrested him.

After he was brought to the police station, Librea denied that he was the one who burned the hut of Avergonzado and alleged that it the victim's cousin who burned it and he was only able to witness the incident.

He said that he went into hiding after the incident after Avergonzado's cousin threatened to kill him if he will testify in court against him.

From then on he moved to barangay Campo 7 in Minglanilla town and has earned a living by selling charcoal until his arrest last Saturday.

Capangpangan said that the suspect will be brought to Bohol today. His bail has been set at P12,000. - Flor Z. Perolina/BRP