After 23 years, Bohol’s most wanted falls in N. Cotabato

CEBU, Philippines - After 23 years of hiding, the most wanted person in Bohol province was finally caught in a town in Mindanao by police authorities from Central Visayas.

Elements of the 7th Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit  arrested the now 40-year-old Ronald Baykin at sitio Kitub in Barangay Bao of Alamada town in North Cotabato on Saturday afternoon.

The 7RCIDU’s manhunt detectives, Insp. Teofilo Juanata, Jr. and SPO3 Pablo Gentalian, first conducted investigation, backtracking and surveillance on Baykin for at least three months and then nabbed the fugitive at around 1:20 p.m. Saturday.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 7 chief, Sr. Supt. Ritchie Posadas, said Baykin was found hiding in the remote, rough road and critical area—considered as Moro Islamic Liberation Front bailiwick—located at least 500 kilometers from the main road.

Posadas said Baykin chose to live in one of the remotest places in Mindanao, thinking perhaps at the time that he will be safe there and far from being arrested.

Baykin was a native of Cadiz City in Negros Occidental and a former member of the Citizens’ Armed Forces Geographical Unit in Bohol.

He reportedly killed Remy Caina on February 10, 1991 at Lila town in Bohol, and became one of the most wanted persons of Bohol with a reward of P75,000 for his capture.

The arresting team carried two warrants of arrest against Baykin for the crimes of murder and qualified illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, issued by Judge Achilles Melicor of the Regional Trial Court-branch 4 in Tagbilaran City, on May 15, 1991 and August 23, 1991, respectively, with no bail bond.

The manhunt operation against Baykin was in line with the campaign against most wanted persons, dubbed as “Oplan Pagtugis,” and operational thrusts of the Philippine National Police. (FREEMAN)