Suspect in Sta. Rosa mayor's slay nabbed

MANILA, Philippines - After five long years in hiding, the principal suspect in the killing of Mayor Leon Arcillas of Sta. Rosa, Laguna was arrested Sunday in his rented apartment in Quezon.

The suspect, Daniel Yason, alias Alas and Ace, 54, was arrested based on an arrest warrant issued by Judge Teodoro Solis, of the Biñan, Laguna Regional Trial Court Branch 25, said Director Perfecto Palad, head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations Southern Luzon.

At the time of his arrest, Yason was working as volunteer organizer of a local politician seeking the board member post in the first District of Quezon, reports reaching Pa-lad said.

Records showed that Arcillas was walking in the second floor of the City Hall in Sta. Rosa after officiating a mass wedding when gunned down by the suspects on May 10, 2005.

When his police escorts PO3 Juliet Rivera and PO3 Alfredo Almendras tried to reach for their service firearms, the suspects also opened fire on them.

Rivera died on the spot.

Arcillas and Almendras were rushed to the Perpetual Help Hospital in nearby Biñan but only the latter survived.

Murder charges

Police filed direct assault and murder charges against Yason and several other suspects.

Prior to the killing of Arcillas, Yason was a member of the Federation of Free Workers in PILSEN Corp. in 1975 in Sta Ros, Laguna, and later on became the vice president of Kilusang Mayo Uno in 1990.

In his report to Palad, Chief Superintendent Rolando Añonuevo, Calabarzon police director said an informant sighted Yason in his rented apartment in Greenville Subdivision in Barangay Ayuti in Lucban, Quezon.

Añonuevo said elements of the Laguna police conducted the raid and surprised Yason in his apartment unit.

Añonuevo said the arrest of Yason is in consonance with the directive of Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa to intensify their drive against criminals, especially those victimizing media personalities and elected government officials.

“The arrest of Yason is a strong warning to criminals who are on the run that they can run but they cannot hide,” said Añonuevo. – With Arnell Ozaeta, Michelle Zoleta, Ed Amoroso