Another suspect in Ecija priest’s slay arrested

SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela, Philippines — Another suspect in the murder of Catholic priest Fr. Richmond Nilo has been arrested in Maddela, Quirino province.

Bernie Limpio, 35, of Arayat, Pampanga, was arrested during an anti-drug operation in Barangay Sta. Maria, on Friday night, according to Senior Superintendent Gregory Bognalbal, director of the Quirino police.

Limpio was one of eight men who reportedly took part in the murder of Nilo in a church in Zaragosa, Nueva Ecija on June 10 this year.

The suspect went into hiding after he was implicated in the murder.

Limpio was arrested after he reportedly sold a sachet of shabu to Police Officer 3 Ryan Juliana, who posed as a buyer.

The suspect’s arrest was the result of a series of surveillance and stings for gun-running and drug activities conducted by a team of police operatives, according to Senior Inspector Eric Ceasar Rumbaoa, Maddela police chief.

Rumbaoa said Limpio was reportedly involved in gun-running and illegal drug activities.

Limpio admitted to the police his participation in the killing, saying he received only P8,000 of the P100,000 promised to them by the mastermind.

He is now in the custody of the Maddela police.

Police earlier arrested Manuel Torres and Omar Mallari, said to be the mastermind and gunman, respectively.

Two others, identified as Rolando Garcia and Marius Albis, surrendered to authorities.

Police have yet to arrest three more suspects in case. – With Emmanuel Tupas, Raymund Catindig