Man suspected of killing 5, robbing P13M worth of gold nabbed in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A suspect, wanted for killing five people and stealing P13-million worth of gold from a mining firm in Benguet, was tracked down and arrested in Basilan province by combined police forces, security officials said.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesman of Police Regional Office (PRO) 9, said the captured suspect was identified as Agustin Pallatao Quimang, considered as one of the most wanted person in Cordillera. He was found hiding in Isabela City, Basilan.

Huesca said elements of the PRO Cordillera Region, backed by the personnel of the Isabela Police Station, Regional Intelligence Division with the Special Action Force (SAF) and army intelligence group captured Quimang Tuesday afternoon at Barangay Baluno. 

The police said Quimang has a standing warrant of arrest signed by Judge Agapito K. Laoagan, Jr. for the crime of robbery with multiple homicide. 

Based on the investigation, the case against Quimang stemmed from his alleged killing of five people and carting away some P13 million worth of gold from Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company based in Benguet some time in 2003.

The captured suspect has been detained in Isabela City Police Station pending his commitment to Abatan, Bugias in Benguet.