CentCom rewards Echaniz informant

CEBU - The Central Command yesterday awarded P5 million to the informant who was instrumental in the arrest of communist/terrorist leader Randall Echaniz, the suspect in the death of many discovered in a mass grave in Inopacan, Leyte in 2006.

CentCom Commander General Pedro Ike Inserto personally handed the amount to the informant who was clothed in black during the awarding ceremony yesterday afternoon.

“We will handle the informant’s security in the same way that we are handling the security of other informants (before). We will not waste his contribution to the ISO (Internal Security Operation),” Inserto said.

Echaniz, 58, alias Chito/Noel/Manuel Santiago, has a standing warrant of arrest for 15 counts of murder. The mass graves in Inopacan, Leyte were discovered on August 6, 2006.

On January 28, 2008, elements of the 3rd Infantry Division and Negros Police Provincial Command arrested Echaniz at the vicinity of barangay Alok, Bago City in Negros Occidental.

He was arrested by virtue of a warrant issued by Executive Judge Ephrem S. Abando of Branch 13 of the Regional Trial Court in Hilongos, Leyte.

The bounty on Echaniz’ head was based on the Joint Resolution of the Local Joint Reward Valuation Committee who deliberated the reward claim for Echaniz’ arrest per Intelligence Directive Nr. 03-2007 dated March 20, 2007.

Echaniz is a native of Santiago, Ilocos Sur and finished Bachelor of Science in Political Science at the University of the East.

Echaniz was a former member of Kabataan Makabayan; Political Officer of Armed Propaganda Unit; Political Officer of Platun ng Kapatagan ng Isabela and Platun sa Pulong Hilaga ng Isabela; Member of North East Luzon Regional Party Committee and Regional Secretariat; Secretary of North East Luzon RPC; 1st Dept. Sec. of North West Luzon RPC; and regional party secretary of the NWLRCP.

Echaniz was first detained at the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail in Hilongos, Leyte but was later moved to the Leyte Provincial Jail in Kauswagan, Palo, Leyte based on his approved Motion to Transfer Detention, which the court granted on January 29, 2008. – Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/JMO (THE FREEMAN)