Suspect in killing of Aguilar mayor, bodyguard nabbed

AFTER 24 YEARS

AGUILAR—After 24 years, the police finally arrested the suspect in the killing of the town’s mayor and his bodyguard here in Barangay Poblacion here on July 25.

P/Senior Inspector Arturo Melchor Jr, town police chief, said Amante dela Cruz, 47, resident of Sitio Tambogan, Barangay Poblacion, the primary suspect in the double case almost 25 years ago, was finally arrested after he was reported to the police for malicious and lewd advances towards a local female resident.

Dela Cruz allegedly gunned down then Mayor Angelito Nava and his bodyguard, Gayde Rosario, while they were jogging in May 1992.  Melchor said Dela Cruz reportedly shot Nava due to an old grudge.

Melchor said Dela Cruz went into hiding in Mindanao.

Dela Cruz had just returned to his residence here to vacation when he allegedly suddenly touched a woman’s leg who passed by.

When the woman complained to the police and during the inquiry, barangaymates identified Dela Cruz as the gunman in the killings of Nava and his security aide.

Retired Senior Police Officer 1 Charlie Nava, brother of the slain mayor, and other elder residents in the barangay, also came to the police station and pointed to Dela Cruz as the gunman in the double murder case.

This prompted Melchor to look into the existence of any alias warrant against Dela Cruz with the Regional Trial Court in Lingayen.

“We found out he has standing warrants for double murder and frustrated murder cases,” he said.

The police chief said they are awaiting the release of commitment order from the court to transfer Dela Cruz to the Pangasinan Provincial Jail.

Dela Cruz is listed in the Department of Interior and Local Government’s most wanted persons with reward for his capture, Melchor said.

The police are coordinating with PNP stations in Mindanao to check on other possible crimes Dela Cruz may have committed there. (Tita Roces)

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