Suspect in Monkayo mayor’s slay recaptured

CAMP RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City — Don’t brag about your criminal exploits when drunk.

A rebel returnee wanted for his involvement in the 2003 killing of Monkayo, Compostela Valley Mayor Joel Brillantes learned this lesson when his drinking buddies, who had had enough of his bragging, tipped off police about him.

A belated report reaching the Caraga police said a combined team of the Tago and provincial police arrested Cirilo Losdo Engrova, 41, in Barangay Somo-Somo in Tago, Surigao del Sur last Thursday night.

Senior Inspector Nelly Tabornal Villagarcia said Engrova’s drinking buddies tipped off police about his whereabouts after he had bragged about his criminal exploits.

Superintendent Arthur Sanchez, who led the arresting team, said Engrova, who tried to resist arrest, yielded a fully loaded caliber .45 pistol.

Brillantes was gunned down on June 28, 2003 at the Matina cockpit in Matina City, Davao del Norte.

Brillantes, a former police officer before venturing into politics, was engaged in gold mining and buying at the gold-rush area on Mt. Diwalwal in the early 1990s.

Judge Jesus Quitain recommended no bail for Engrova and the other suspects — Dejito Sitoy (deceased), Tiwik Cajes, and a certain Escuadro, a Davao City policeman — after a five-month trial, Sanchez said.

Engrova, however, later escaped from detention. He eluded arrest when police swooped down on his safehouse in Barangay Tunalian, Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte.