ZAMBALES Police Provincial Office (PPO) director Colonel Romano V. Cardiño on Friday announced the capture of eight most wanted persons–one of them a 73-year-old farmer who is facing a gun-related case since 2004– following separate manhunt operations in the province this week

“The arrests are part of our intensified effort to put in jail all persons covered with warrants of arrest in Zambales including those found to be hiding in the province as ordered by Police Regional Office 3 director, Brigadier General Valeriano de Leon,” the official told the Journal Group.

Four of the suspects identified as Mark Anthony Aquino, 24; Leiann Molino, 32; Wilma Luzano, 50; and Nonito Morallos, 53, were arrested by the local police on Thursday.

Cardiño said that Aquino, a native of Castillejos who has been listed as the 3rd most wanted person in Central Luzon, was arrested by operatives of the Zambales PPO led by Major Richard Fortaleza and Lieutenant William Bimmoy with the assistance of the Isabela police in Purok 6, Bgy. Caquilingan in Cordon, Isabela.

Aquino is wanted for the killing of one John Cabarrubias inside a resto-bar in Bgy. de Pilar, Castillejos on January 27, 2016. He went into hiding after Judge Roline Ginez Jabalde of the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 74 issued a non-bailable warrant of arrest for murder against him on January 16, 2019.

On the other hand, Molino, the subject of a warrant of arrest for qualified theft issued by Judge Consuelo Amog-Bocar of the Iba RTC Branch 71 on October 25, 2012, was arrested in Bgy. Poblacion North in Sta. Cruz municipality. Local police chief Captain Richard Asis said the suspect has been in hiding for nearly nine years until they managed to apprehend him following a tip from an informant.

Luzano, a widow residing in Bgy. San Guillermo in San Marcelino, was arrested in nearby Bgy. Linasin on the basis of a warrant for falsification by private individual and use of falsified documents issued last June 15 by Judge Esmeralda David of the Olongapo City Municipal Circuit Trial Court Branch 4.

Morallos, the subject of a warrant of arrest for violation of the anti-child abuse law issued by Judge Josefina Faralles of the Iba RTC Branch 69 was arrested in Purok 5 in Bgy. Lipay Dinggin by officers led by Lt. Joseph Angiwan.

The other four suspects identified as Alfredo Elago Sr., 68; Ernesto Cruzado, 73; Ronnie Basa, 49; and Ireneo Baytic, 29, were arrested in separate manhunt operations last Wednesday, Cardiño said.

He said that Elago was arrested in Bgy. Tapuac, Masinloc by officers led by Major Ramil Menor. The suspect is wanted for a child molestation case last May 11. His arrest was ordered by Judge Maribel Mariano-Beltran of the Iba RTC Branch 13 last August 23.

On the other hand, Cruzado was arrested for violation of Presidential Decree 1866 or illegal possession of firearms in his residence in Purok 3 in Bgy. Nacolcol, Botolan. Judge Clodulado Monta of the Iba RTC Branch 70 issued the warrant against the accused on September 30, 2004.

Basa, a co-accused of Cruzado, was arrested in Purok 2, Bgy. Palis, Botolan.

Baytic was arrested by officers led by Lt. Pablo Aggabao in Purok 3, Bgy. Macalong in Kasibu, Nueva Viscaya for three counts of qualified theft. Cardiño said that Judge Santiago Beltran of the Iba RTC Branch 69 ordered the arrest of the accused last July 13.

“”The arrest of the wanted suspects must serve as a warning to all criminals and other wanted persons that Zambales province is not a safe place to hide,” said Cardiño.