Suspect in deadly Abra grenade blasts arrested

LA PAZ, Abra -- One of prime suspects in the grenade blasts that killed two policemen and injured 24 others on January was arrested in his residence in Lagayan town on Tuesday.

Abra Rep. Joseph Sto Niño Bernos and his wife, La Paz Mayor Menchie Bernos were injured during the incident. One of those killed was a former SAF survivor of the Mamasapano clash in Mindanao.

The grenade blasts jolted locals celebrating the La Paz fiesta at the town plaza past midnight last Jan. 25. It happened while the people were watching fireworks display at that time.

Chief Supt. Rolando Nana, Cordillera police director identified the suspect as Joel Millare Balucas, 45, single, farmer, of sitio Kiwas, Barangay, Pulot, Lagayan.

Nana said Balucas was arrested through a warrant for the crime of double murder with multiple attempted murder with criminal case number 2018-138 issued by honorable Raphiel F. Alzate, presiding judge, RTC branch 1, Bangued, Abra dated Aug. 24, 2018 with no bail recommended.

“Success is never deprived with the practice of patience, even if it may take quite a time. This is one of the foremost achievements of the PRO-COR to give justice in the grenade blast incident at La Paz, Abra last January 25, 2018,” Nana said.

The Abra Police Provincial Office filed cases of double murder and multiple frustrated murder against three suspects two months later triggering manhunt operations.

Balucas is in the custody of Lagayan police prior turn over to the court concerned. He was supposed to have been arrested last Dec. 13, 2017 for three counts of attempted homicide with the use of an unlicensed firearm, but was able to post a bond of P180,000 for each count.