Cagayan mayor bet nabbed for murder of town councilor

By Liezle Basa Inigo

RIZAL, Cagayan -- A mayoralty candidate and incumbent vice mayor of this town was arrested by agents of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Philippine National Police in Quezon City Monday afternoon, April 18, in connection with the murder of a town councilor in 2018.
    The Cagayan Provincial Information Office reported Tuesday that incumbent vice mayor Joel Ruma has been charged in connection with the murder of Sangguniang Bayan Member Alfredo Alvarez who was shot dead in Tuguegarao City in 2018.
    Aside from Ruma, other suspects in the killing who are objects of manhunt operation are Simeon Baloran, Jessie Labang, Dalden Guiwayan, Jose Batang and Jocel Sacayle .
    Based on the information obtained by the CPIO at the PNP Kamuning Police Station, the said official was cornered near the El Jardin 2 President Condominium, Sgt. Esguerra, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City at around 4 p.m. last Monday.
    Ruma’s arrest was based on the murder case he is facing (case number 23026) and also on the validity of the Warrant of Arrest issued by Judge Vilma Pauig of the RTC Second Judicial Region in Tuguegarao.
    No bail was recommended for Ruma who is temporarily detained at CIDG Camp Crame .
    Among the basis of his alleged involvement in the crime was the security camera footage near the crime scene that Labang and Baloran were responsible for the murder of SB Alvarez. The two were then serving as security aides of then Mayor Joel Ruma.
    Vice Mayor Ruma is mayoralty candidate in his town in this coming election.
    Prior to his arrest, the Rizal Police have already launched a manhunt operation against the incumbent vice mayor and five others in relation to a murder case .
    Police Maj. Raymund Baggayan, chief of Rizal PNP, confirmed to media that incumbent vice mayor Joel Ruma and five others from Rizal town and Kalinga, Apayao have been issued warrants of arrest for the murder of an official.
    “We have seen his name in E -Warrant , that’s why we are now conducting manhunt and investigation for his immediate arrest, ”said Baggayan.