Additional cash reward for Ayalin's arrest sought

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, Negros Occidental Police provincial director, said his office has recommended to the Philippine National Police (PNP) National Headquarters for additional cash reward of P250,000 to speed up the arrest of fugitive Noel Ayalin.

This is on top of the P500,000 special reward earlier offered by Governor Alfredo Maranon Jr.

Ayalin, a former barangay captain of Kapitan Ramon in Silay City, is facing multiple murder and frustrated murder charges in court for allegedly shooting to death four barangay officials and injuring three others, last March 6, while the victims were having a session inside the brgy. hall.

He remained at-large despite a nationwide manhunt and the joint efforts of the police, the military, the CIDG, and the NBI. Guisihan said Ayalin is now on top of the list of 10 most-wanted persons in Negros Occidental.

Guisihan said it will be up to the PNP National Headquarters to endorse his recommendation to the DILG, which has yet to evaluate it for approval.

The DILG has funds for providing incentives to informants that could lead to the arrest of wanted persons, he said adding that his office continues to receive information on the sightings of Ayalin in Murcia town and in other places in the province.

This confirmed the theory that Ayalin is still in Negros, and probably protected by his friends to elude arrest, Guisihan said. — THE FREEMAN