5 RPA-ABB members in police ambush yield

ILOILO CITY , Philippines  — Five members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) who ambushed members of Janiuay Police Station four years ago voluntarily surrendered Tuesday afternoon.

The five who yielded to Mayor Frankie Locsin were: Jose Barranco, alias Noknok, 57, and Cesar Tallador, alias Kidlat, 27, both of Brgy. Mangil in Janiuay town of Iloilo; Gorgonio Adorable, alias Gonyong, 54, of Brgy, Madong, Janiuay; and Frandy Acopio, alias Dodoy, 40, and Mark Ryan Aguaje, 23, both of Brgy. Patong-Patong in Janiuay.

They, together with Bernardo Umayao, alias Jack, and Ricardo Lentija, were accused of the complex crime of murder with the use of unlicensed firearm with double frustrated murder.

Umayao was earlier arrested in Antique province and is now detained at the Iloilo Provincial Integrated Jail in Pototan, Iloilo while the complainants filed an affidavit of desistance on Lentija after they reached an out-of-court settlement.

Senior Insp. Marius Amar, Janiuay Police chief, hinted that the suspects might be released soon because of an amicable settlement between them and the family of the victims.

The case against the suspects stemmed when they allegedly ambushed members of the Janiuay Police Station last March 28, 2008 at Brgy. Patong-Patong.

The attack killed PO3 Gildo Sullivan and wounded his two companions – PO3 Francisco Gabiano and PO1 Jonathan Limas.  (FREEMAN)