TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- The Cagayan Valley regional police unit said it found evidence that a former communist guerrilla member was responsible in the series of killings in the city of Ilagan in Isabela province.
In a press release, the Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2) identified the suspect as former New People’s Army (NPA) rebel Warlito Cardona, also known as “Ka Rambo.”
Police said a cross matching examination conducted by the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) revealed that the firearm used in the three shooting incidents transpired in Ilagan City was the same firearm confiscated from Cardona during a hot pursuit operation on August 31.
Cardona was arrested on August 31 after he was involved in a shooting incident in Barangay Marana 1st in Ilagan on August 31, 2017 wherein the victims were identified as Kyle Lawrence Balisi, 17, and Villa Mae Sevilla, 22.
Ilagan City police’s chief Ariel Quilang also tagged Cardona in the killing of two individuals in August.
Quilang said the former rebel turned hired killer was the primary suspect in the slay of Vincent Guzman, 34, on August 9 and Joey Molicara, 44, on August 14.
Guzman, according to the police, was arrested for alleged drug charges in January 2016 but was able to post bail.
The motives of shooting Guzman, Balisi and Sevilla were personal grudge, while that of Molicara was allegedly a “love triangle” issue, police said.
Police said Cardona is a former member of the NPA who surrendered to the government in 1985. He later turned to “gun for hire” personality operating in Isabela province with previous murder cases and illegal possession of firearms.
“The result of the police investigation shall now wipe out the negative public perception and the suspicion that the series of killings in the province of Isabela has something to do with our war against illegal drugs. “We ensure the public that the Valley Cops are doing its best to haul lawless elements to stop them from their criminal activities,” Police Chief Superintendent Robert Quenery, regional police chief, said. Northernforum.net
