Lacson top aide nabbed in Bataan

BALANGA CITY, Philippines  – An alleged top aide of fugitive Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson was arrested yesterday morning in the upland village of Binakawan, about five kilometers away from Bagac town hall, this province.

Senior Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao, Bataan police director, identified the former bodyguard and personal driver of Lacson as Reynaldo Oximoso, 60, a retired Senior Police Officer (SPO4) who was reportedly wanted for multiple murder.

Gunnacao told The STAR that Oximoso was arrested by police operatives led by SPO2 Danilo Nazareno of the Bataan police intelligence branch at about 11:45 a.m. yesterday while talking with his relatives and friends near the Gov. Linao Highway, Barangay Binakawan, Bagac. Oximoso allegedly went to Bataan to attend the victory party of his nephew, Mamerto Boniel, the newly-elected barangay chairman. The suspect reportedly arrived alone on Sunday night aboard his tinted car (RBN-401).

Oximoso was allegedly involved in the shooting incident on Jan. 17, 1984 in Purdue street, Cubao, Quezon City where five Criminal Investigation Detection Group (CIDG) while a cousin of Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul Bacalzo was slain during the operations while he was still a constabulary non-commissioned officer.

Gunnacao said that Oximoso was arrested based on the warrant of arrest number Q-90- 14865 issued by Judge Jaime Salazar Jr. of the National Capital Regional Trial Court Branch 103. Police confiscated from Oximoso a licensed .45 automatic pistol.

Police operatives reportedly have launched surveillance and intelligence monitoring of the coastal town of Bagac, Bataan after reports that Oximoso had been sighted several times with his relatives for the past weeks.

Initial police investigation showed that Oximoso was assigned at Administrative Holding Center at Camp Crame, Quezon City for two years before his retirement in 2006. He separated with Lacson in 2004 and since then had no contact with the wanted lawmaker.

Oximoso denied participation in the kidnapping and murder of PR man Salvador Dacer and his driver.

– With Ric Sapnu