Suspect in lawmaker’s ambush yields

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines  –– The fugitive mayor of Iligan City Celso Regencia surrended yesterday to authorities of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), according to sources close to him.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. suspended Regencia on grounds of abuse of authority.

A warrant of arrest was issued against him for his alleged

involvement in the Dec. 11, 2014 ambush of Iligan Rep. Vicente Belmonte.

An Iligan city hall insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Regencia surrendered to officials of the Iligan City Jail at around 8:30 a.m. and is now detained there.

Regencia’s surrender brought out the question on whether he would file his certificate of candidacy, since he has not been convicted.

“The motion to quash the warrant of arrest has been void since he already surrendered,” the source said.

The same source said Regencia‘s camp would call a meeting today to discuss the possibility of his filing a COC.

Aside from Regencia, also wanted by authorities are Police

Officer 3 Alfeo Arnoco, Amado Baller, Rogelio Pitos Sr., Romeo Suganob, Peehay Capanpagan, Julito Oros Ansad, Dodo Silvano and Rogelio Pitos Jr.

On Dec. 11, 2014, gunmen ambushed the convoy of Belmonte a kilometer away from the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental, while his convoy was on the way to Iligan City.

Belmonte was unharmed but three of his security escorts were killed and five others were wounded.