La Union farm caretaker slay suspects arrested
THREE ex-military and police personnel were arrested in La Union for the alleged slay of a farm caretaker in Barangay Ballogo, Bacnotan, La Union on June 25, 2021.
Killed was Cristito Morate, a 49-year-old caretaker from Imus, Cavite who has been in Bacnotan for only two weeks.
In a report by Bombo Radyo La Union, Police Major Gerardo Macaraeg Jr., chief of the San Juan Police Station, said two suspects were arrested while escaping from the scene of the crime, including an enlisted member of the Philippines Marines and one AWOL member of the PNP-SAF.
They were identified as Sgt. Allan Alegria alias Major Allan Rashid Ortega, 44, of Aborlan, Palawan and Patrolman Rogie Ege, 28, of Negros Occidental. A third suspect, Sgt. Adonis Bayan, was arrested in a San Fernando City resort. Bayan is said to be a brother of another AWOL officer who remains at large.
Macaraeg said the suspects allegedly tried to flee aboard an orange pick-up truck from San Juan and were cornered at a checkpoint by authorities in Barangay Lingsat, San Fernando City.
CCTV tracking helped the police track down the suspects which led to the resort. Confiscated from the suspects were high powered firearms, ammunition, bullet vests, radios, cellphones, back packs and other items.
The victim was shot in the head inside a cock farm in Barangay Ballogo, Bacnotan. Authorities filed a murder case against the suspects and violation of Republic Act No. 10591 for illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions.
