8 suspects in killing of Muntinlupa exec nabbed

Eight suspected members of a breakaway communist group believed to be responsible for the killing of Muntinlupa City administrator Obet Bunye last year were arrested by a combined force of police Special Action Force and intelligence operatives from the Southern Police District in Laguna province over the weekend. Those arrested during a raid 8 a.m. Saturday at Pacita 2-C in San Pedro town were identified as: Brandy Nilo Gerona, Lloyd Perez, Rommel Baying, Elly Macariola, Frangilico Gerona, Jonathan Cartujano, Jenny Canlas and Sienna Quiambao. The eight, all suspected members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB), were nabbed by virtue of a search warrant for illegal possession of firearms. All were presented in Camp Crame by Director Geary Barias, commander of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO). Barias said several firearms were seized from the suspects at the time of their arrest: a KG-9 assault rifle, a caliber 45 pistol, a caliber 25 pistol, three hand grenades, assorted ammunition and magazines. Initial information showed that the group had engaged itself in gun-for-hire activities, extortion and mafia-like organized crime activities. Barias claimed that Brandy had admitted responsibility for at least 40 liquidations, including that of Bunye in August last year. Bunye is said to be a relative of Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye. - GMANews.TV