ILOILO CITY – Police have tagged members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, a breakaway faction  identified with expelled rebel leader Nilo de la Cruz, as the suspects in the ambush-slay of a policeman and injuries of two others, in Janiuay, Iloilo, Friday.

Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, Iloilo police director, yesterday said they will file murder charges and two counts of frustrated murder against RPA-ABB leader Bernardo Ayawan, alias Ka Jack, and nine of his companions for the killing of PO3 Gildo Sullivan, and the injuries of PO3 Francisco Gabiano and PO3 Jonathan Limas in Brgy. Patong-Patong, Janiuay town.

Police investigations show that Sullivan and two other policemen responded to the complaint of Jose Neil Palermo, who claimed he was mauled by the group of Ayawan, in a place about four kilometers away from the town poblacion.

De la Paz said heated arguments took place between the police officers who investigated the mauling incident and the RPA-ABB, which prompted them to withdraw, sensing danger in their continued stay in the area.

While the police officers were on their way back to their police headquarters, on board a patrol jeep, they were ambushed by the suspects about 150 meters away from the place where the arguments took place between them and the RPA-ABB fighters, police investigations showed.

De la Paz said Sullivan was hit in the nape, and died on the spot. Gabiano got a gunshot wound in his left palm, while Limas was hit in the left armpit.

Troopers of the 607th Provincial Mobile Group, assisted by Janiuay policemen, immediately conducted pursuit operation and recovered three M-16 rifles and a 9mm pistol of the policemen.

Also recovered from the ambush site were 27 empty shells of M-16 armalite rifle and 28 empty cartridges of M-14 assault rifle.

De la Paz said Ayawan is under the command of Demetrio Capilastique, alias Ka Hugo, and affiliated with the RPA-ABB faction of Nilo de la Cruz.

De la Cruz, a former head of the New People’s Army liquidation unit, was expelled from the RPA-ABB and its political arm, Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Mangagawa-Pilipinas, allegedly for financial opportunism and involvement in illegal activities.

Police records also showed that Ayawan and his group are facing robbery with physical injuries charges for the mauling and hold-up of two brothers in Cabatuan, Iloilo, in previous months.

Aside from criminal charges, de la Paz said they will also file a complaint against the group of Ayawan before the Joint Enforcement Monitoring Committee, for violation of of the peace agreement between the government and RPM-P-RPA-ABB signed in year 2000.*GPB

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