Guingona ambush suspect nabbed

MANILA, Philippines - A suspect to the ambush of Gingoog Mayor Ruthie Guingona was arrested by security forces Sunday in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

Cpt. Christian Uy, spokesman of the Army’s 4th division, said the suspect, identified as Joel Yagao, was arrested in Poblacion Proper in Villanueva town by a joint team of soldiers and policemen.

The suspect was apprehended by virtue of an arrest warrant for double and multiple frustrated murder in connection with the ambush of Guingona’s convoy last April.

Uy said Yagao was identified by a former communist rebel as a liaison officer of Guerrilla 4B of the North Central Mindanao Committee, the same group that owed up to the ambush. 

“More suspects are expected to be apprehended since more witnesses are submitting affidavits and voluntarily giving relevant information,” Uy said in a statement.

Col. Francisco Pabayo, chief of the Army’s 403rd Brigade, said they would continue to support the police operations against those behind the ambush.

Last April, members of the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked the convoy of Guingona on the outskirts of Gingoog, killing two of the mayor's aides. Three persons, including Guingona, were hurt in the attack.

The government has condemned the attack, saying it violated human rights.

The Communist Party of the Philippines has expressed regret for the incident but claimed that the first shots came from Guingona's aides. - Alexis Romero