CIDG personnel arrest councilman for interferring in arrest of brother

CEBU - A barangay councilman in Liboron, Carcar City was arrested by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group early evening yesterday after he tried to interfere in the arrest of his brother who is facing multiple murder charges.

Authorities said a group headed by William Racoma, a first-time barangay councilman of Liboron, and his other brother James, allegedly tried to stop them from letting their brother Crisanto ride into the police vehicle. Crisanto was tagged as suspect in the killing of three people last April 11.

The CIDG said Racoma’s group of about 30 tried to barricade the way to the police car. The team was armed with a warrant of arrest against Crisanto issued by Judge Generosa Labra of Branch 23 of the Regional Trial Court.

The CIDG charged Racoma for violating Presidential Decree 1829 or the law on Obstruction of Apprehension and Prosecution of Criminal Offenders. He is currently detained at CIDG.

Crisanto and co-accused Ryan Saducas, Rico Oaper, and Grogorio Rosal were allegedly responsible for the killing of Manuel Bacalan, Roel Bargamento, and Elmer Alcuizar last April 11. Saducas is now detained at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center.

Marylou Castañares, Liboron chief tanod, said the death of Bargamento, Bacalan and Alcuizar brought to 16 the number of people killed in their barangay within a span of 10 years.

Police tagged Saducas as one of Carcar’s most “notorious criminals”. He was arrested few days after committing the crime.

He also had four pending arrest warrants for murder, attempted murder, homicide, and grave threats before he was arrested in connection with the Liboron killings.

Saducas was also tagged as the gunman of Allan Villegas Lapingcao, a suspect in a grenade blast in Daanbantayan that killed nine people nine years ago. – Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/JMO (THE FREEMAN)