CIDG closing in on 5 more suspects in decade-old massacre case

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is closing in on five more suspects in the massacre of a family in Leyte 12 years ago.

This was only a week after one of the suspects — Apolonio Balute, 44, of Tansay Street, Dagat-Dagatan, Maypajo, Caloocan City — was arrested in Caloocan City.

Balute, was arrested after almost 13 years in hiding by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Buenaventura Pajaron of Leyte.

A native of Capoocan, Leyte, Balute is one of the prime suspects in the massacre of Jovito Bayani Sr. and his family in Sitio Maganasnas, Barangay Tolibao in Capoocan, Leyte on Dec. 7, 1990. He is now facing multiple homicide charges in a Leyte court.

Police records show that on Dec. 7, 1990, six armed men robbed the Bayanis and killed Jovito, his wife Lilia, their four children and sister-in-law Yolanda Balute.

It was also established that three of the women victims were raped before they were killed. Their bodies were dumped at sea.

Rodrigo Bayani Sr., the younger brother of Jovito, had already lost hope that justice would be served on the grisly killing of his brother and his whole family.

However, the Northern-CIDG led by Superintendent Simon Fernan and Navy intelligence agents arrested Balute last week at his lair in Dagat-Dagatan.

The CIDG team, composed of Chief Inspector Efren Dalumpines, Senior Inspector Francis Gordon with PO3s Dandie Bonita, Rex Casinos, Marcelino Maguio and June Magnao, accompanied by the Navy operatives, swooped down on Balute’s den, which is also reportedly used as a hideout by his five other cohorts.

The raid, however, only resulted in the arrest of Balute. But information on the whereabouts of the other suspects were gathered by authorities. "The long arm of the law will soon catch them," Dalumpines said. – Pete Laude