BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Police arrested Sunday the city’s most wanted person, who was a suspect in the killing of a teenager and the raping of the victim’s girlfriend at the BREDCO Port in November last year.
Nabbed was Ariel de la Cruz of Brgy. 10 Bacolod, according to City Police director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz yesterday.
De la Cruz is presently confined at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in this city after he was hit by a bullet on his leg during a shootout with policemen Sunday morning, said Station 3 chief, Sr. Insp. Conrado Rances.
De la Cruz’s arrest warrants for frustrated homicide with rape and murder were issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 51 Judge Anita Chua.
De la Cruz allegedly shot and killed Joshua Lopez, 16, of Doña Juliana Subdivision in Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod, on November 20, 2011, while he and his girlfriend were seeking shelter.
Senior Insp. Lester Leada said de la Cruz followed the couple and, without provocation, shot Lopez, and raped and tried to kill his girlfriend, but she managed to escape and seek police help.
De la Cruz, an ex-convict, was released from the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa City where he was jailed for drug charges, Leada said. (FREEMAN)