Senior Superintendent Prudencio de la Cruz, provincial police director, said policemen in Diadi town arrested Rommel Laciste after residents of Barangay Namamparan reported that he had whacked to death the driver of a tricycle he had rented in Santiago City, Isabela.
Laciste allegedly masterminded the abduction and killing of Concepcion Lumanglas, assistant parole and probation officer of Isabela, whose body was found at a cornfield in Naguilian, Isabela a day after she was snatched.
Laciste, who faces a string of criminal cases in Isabela courts, was positively identified as one of the five armed men who seized Lumanglas from her residence in Ilagan, Isabela.
De la Cruz said Diadi policemen were at first unaware of Laciste’s being a key suspect in Lumanglas’ gruesome killing until he rambled that he had a hand in it.
Earlier, a policeman, PO1 Rommel Acacio, assigned to Ramon, Isabela, was arrested after he was found to be the owner of the getaway van used in Lumanglas’ abduction.
Two other suspects, Bongbong Antolin and Isagani Manzano, were later arrested in Santiago City.
Antolin was said to be the driver of the getaway van, while Manzano was tagged as one of Lumanglas’ abductors.
De la Cruz said Laciste confessed his participation in the kidnap-slaying before he was turned over to the Isabela police.
Before she was killed, Lumanglas was reportedly investigating the background of Laciste in connection with his application for probation in a pending case of illegal possession of firearms.
Earlier, Senior Superintendent Jude Santos, Isabela police director, decried reports that Laciste had managed to roam around despite his being under the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.