Senior Supt. Ricardo Marquez, Nueva Ecija police director, identified the suspect as Vicente Fernando J. Fernando. He was the most wanted person in the province in 2002 to 2003 and remained in the list of 10 most wanted until his arrest.
Marquez said Fernando was arrested by elements of the 30th Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) and Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija police in Barangay Consuelo, San Antonio, Zambales at about 9:00 a.m. on Thursday.
Operatives led by 30th PMG director, Supt. Edgar Allan Okubo, were armed with warrants issued by Judges Napoleon Sta. Romana and Ismael Casabar both of Guimba Regional trial Court against the suspect for frustrated murder and murder.
Marquez said that Fernando is responsible for the murder of lawyer Dennis Geronimo who was shot inside the Guimba poll precinct the night of July 15, 2002. Geronimo died on-the-spot.
Zenaida Geronimo, chairperson of the Board of Canvassers who was conducting poll duty, survived the attack.
The provincial police got the leads on the suspect’s whereabouts from an officer in Region 9, according to Marquez.
Marquez said that Fernando, a member of the so-called Alakdan Gang, is closely identified with Nilo Sarmiento, leader of a notorious 22-man gun-for-hire and armed robbery group tagged for the string of killings of barangay officials, including Jaen barangay chairman Renato Fermin and those in Licab town
Sarmiento, who confessed his role in 14 murder incidents and two of his gang members were arrested by police recently. Since his arrest, shooting incidents in the province were lessened, police said.
