CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines – The principal suspect in the cold-blooded murder of a lawyer and the wounding of his wife inside a polling precinct seven years ago was finally arrested by joint operatives of the Nueva Ecija police and the Central Luzon police in San Antonio, Zambales Thursday, police reported yesterday.
Police Senior Superintendent Ricardo Marquez, provincial police director, identified the suspect as Vicente Fernando Jr., listed as Nueva Ecija’s 10th most wanted man.
Marquez said the suspect was arrested by elements of the 307th Provincial Mobile Group and the Regional Special Operations Group at Barangay Consuelo Sur, San Antonio, Zambales at 9 a.m. Thursday.
The arresting team, led by 307th PMG group director Superintendent Edgar Alan Okubo, Chief Inspector Reynaldo de la Cruz and Inspector Randy Cornet of the RSOG carried out the arrest by virtue of warrants of arrest issued by Guimba Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judges Ismael Casabar and Napoleon Sta. Romana for murder and attempted murder, respectively.
Marquez said that Fernando was responsible for the murder of lawyer Dennis Geronimo who was shot inside the Guimba precinct the night of July 15, 2002. Geronimo died on the spot.
Geronimo’s wife, Zenaida, who was the chairperson of the Board of Canvassers and was conducting poll duty, survived the attack.
Marquez said that Senior Inspector Edilmar Alviar, who is assigned at the PNP Regional Office 9, provided vital leads which led to Fernando’s arrest.
Marquez said that Fernando is closely identified with Nilo Sarmiento, leader of a notorious 22-man gun-for-hire and armed robbery group tagged for the string of killings of barangay officials, including Jaen barangay chairman Renato Fermin and those in Licab town.
Sarmiento, who confessed his role in 14 murder incidents, and two of his gang members were arrested by police recently. Since his arrest, shooting incidents in the province were reduced considerably.