6 tagged in Laguna mayor’s murder

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna — Police have filed charges of double murder and frustrated murder against six people, including three gang men tagged in last November’s killing of a union leader, for the May 10, 2005 assassination of Sta. Rosa Mayor Leon Arcillas.

The filing of the case was made possible after the alleged gunman surrendered to the police last Dec. 15 and admitted having full knowledge of the plan to kill Arcillas in exchange for P50,000.

Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan, Region 4-A police director, identified those charged as Herminigildo Vibal Jr., 21; Arnold David, 21; Cipriano Refrea Jr., 27; businessman Ricardo Pineda; Edwin Barqueros; and Daniel Yason, a contractor of City Hall.

All suspects were alleged to be members of the gun-for-hire group "Royal Blood Gangsta" which operate in Laguna and Cavite and led by a certain Reynaldo Cesar, who was killed by an unidentified gunman in his apartment in San Pedro, Laguna last Dec. 5.

Radovan said Refrea, who had backed up the triggerman, surrendered to the Laguna police as he feared for his life, adding that he could be the next target after Cesar’s death.

Refrea tagged Vibal as the one who shot Arcillas after officiating a mass wedding at the second floor of the Sta. Rosa City Hall.

Vibal is now detained at the Cavite provincial jail after he, together with David, was charged for the killing of Andrew Iñoza, president of the Alaska Milk Workers’ Union, last Nov. 21.

Arcillas’ police bodyguard, PO2 Ariel Rivera, was also killed in the attack, while another bodyguard, PO3 Wilfredo Alfredo, was critically wounded.

Refrea also named Pineda as the one who allegedly provided them with financial support and firearms used in killing Arcillas.

He claimed that Barqueros and Yason acted as informants on Arcillas’ whereabouts and activities.

Refrea said their group planned and hatched the mayor’s assassination at Pineda’s residence in Cabuyao, Laguna.

Radovan said Pineda, Barqueros and Yason remain at large while David was also nabbed in connection with Iñoza’s killing. — With Ed Amoroso