One of region’s most wanted falls

CEBU, Philippines - One of the most wanted persons in Central Visayas was arrested on Wednesday by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 following their two-month surveillance in Zamboanga Del Norte.

Oscar Baynosa, 48, of Barangay Sto. Tomas, Mutia, Zamboanga Del Norte and native of Naga, Zamboanga Del Sur, was handcuffed by the team led by Inspector Teofilo Juanata, together with the Regional Criminal Investigation and Detention Unit-7, Regional Intelligence Division and the Mutia Metropolitan Police Service.

His arrest was by virtue of an arrest warrant for robbery with double homicide issued by Judge Suceso Arcamo, Branch 46 of Regional Trial Court in Siquijor.

Baynosa was responsible in the killing of Remedios Lapinig and Margarita Lapinig, residents of Barangay Cangomantong, Lazi, Siquijor on April 13, 1996 and charged with robbery with double homicide charges.

Senior Superintendent Ritchie Posadas, CIDG-7 chief, said Baynosa robbed and burned the house of the victims before he eluded the arrest and hid in New Sagay, Zamboanga Sibugay from 1996 to 2006.

He then transferred to Mutia, Zamboanga Del Norte from 2006 to 2014.

Posadas said based on the evaluation of the PNP, Baynosa was listed as top five most wanted person in the region with P100,000 bounty in the head as recommended by Department of Interior and Local Government.

Posadas said they are yet to conduct a backtracking to check if Baynosa still has other pending charges.

“Atong manhunt team are running after these wanted personalities hangtud ato ni silang madakop kung asa ni sila,” Posadas said.

For his part, Baynosa denied any involvement of the crime and that he went to Siquijor.

“Di man tinuod mam wala sad ko nakapuyo sa Siquijor,” Baynosa said, adding that he never knew the victims.

He is now detained at the CIDG-7 stockade and will be committed to the issuing court.

Since Posadas assumed as chief of CIDG-7 last year, a total of P12.5 million worth of rewards for a total 18 arrested wanted persons have already been given to informants. —/JMD (FREEMAN)