AN “intelligence packet” provided by agents of the Philippine National Police Intelligence Group (PNP-IG) has resulted in the capture of a wanted gun-for-hire believed to be under the employ of dismissed Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves in his hiding place in Nueva Ecija, officials told the Journal Group on Monday.

A report from the PNP-IG, headed by Colonel Romeo J. Macapaz, said that elusive murder suspect Richard N. Quadra, a 45-year-old native of Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, was tracked down in his hideout in Barangay Santa Catalina in Talugtug, Nueva Ecija, around 4 p.m. last September 7 by members of the PNP-IG Regional Intelligence Units 7 and 3 and the IG Counter-Intelligence Division

The PNP-IG operatives were assisted by officers from the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office, Talugtug Municipal Police Station and the Army’s 91st Infantry Battalion in hauling the suspect to jail.

A record check showed that Quadra is the subject of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for murder issued by Judge Amelia Lourdes Mendoza of the Dumaguete City Regional Trial Court Branch 34 on July 30, 2021.

When arrested, the suspect yielded an unlicensed Smith & Wesson pistol with a magazine containing 14 live ammunition, prompting the filing of a separate case for violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013, and the gun ban under the Omnibus Election Code against him.

“An intelligence packet provided by the Negros Oriental Provincial Intelligence Team under the Regional Intelligence Unit 7 to the Regional Intelligence Unit 3 led in the arrest of the terrorist group member,” said Macapaz.

The captured suspect is said to have been involved in gun-for-hire activities in Negros Oriental, including the assassination of some elected government officials during the past few years.

He is also believed to be a member of the Miranda Criminal Group led by one Alex Mayagma, who was shot dead in a police operation in Negros Oriental last July 31.

The suspects are said to be involved in the gruesome killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel R. Degamo and nine others inside the former’s compound in Pamplona municipality last March 4.

The suspect is now being held at the Talugtug Municipal Police Station.

Two weeks ago, operatives of the Police Regional Office 7 under Brigadier Gen. Anthony A. Aberin arrested another suspected Teves hitman identified as Menjie Barte, alias “Jojo,” during an operation in Bayawan City.

Barte was also described as a “sidekick” of Mayagma and a main suspect in the killing of one Jhonar Barrios in Bgy. Malabugas in Bayawan City last June 28.

The suspect yielded two caliber .45 semi-automatic pistols with two magazines containing 13 live ammunition, an inside holster, P206 in cash and four pieces of heat-sealed plastic sachets containing an estimated 20 grams of shabu worth P136,000.

The suspect’s XRM 125cc motorcycle was impounded by the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office under Col. Ronan R. Claravall.

The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 has issued an e-warrant of arrest against Teves and three others for the killing of Degamo and the nine others.

Apart from Teves, the others ordered arrested were Angelo Palagtiw, Capt. Lloyd Cruz Garcia II and a certain “Gie Ann,” sister of Angelo.

The Palagtiw siblings reportedly served as lookouts during the day of the shooting, while Garcia was the pilot-in-command of the helicopter that transported the suspects from Dumaguete City to Davao.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon