‘NPA member’ nabbed for two murder cases
An alleged high-profile member of the New People's Army (NPA) was nabbed through the implementation of a warrant of arrest in his residence in Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City early morning yesterday.
Suspect Eduardo Sacamay alias Edgardo, 63, has two pending murder cases under the sala of Tagbilaran, Bohol Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 47 Judge Suceso Arcamo and Toledo City RTC Branch 59 Judge Hermes Montero.
Police Senior Inspector Alejandro Batobalonos of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) said that they have been monitoring Sacamay for almost two weeks after they received information about his presence in the area.
Batobalonos said that there are reports previously that Sacamay was a member of the NPA.
“Kita nakahibawo ta before nga aktibo siya sa kalihukan, karon iya namang gi-deny nga wala na siya nag-apil-apil ana. Pero naa man gud tay nakita nga mga iD niya nga he's attending seminars sa Negros Occidental regarding sa grupo sa mga farmers association,” said Batobalonos.
The police also added that aside from two counts of murder, they also got information that there are still pending warrants against Sacamay at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Bohol.
Sacamay, for his part, denied all the allegations against him linking him to the NPA.
He said that he has been charged with at least 28 cases before, including murder and arson, but these were downgraded to simple rebellion and eventually dismissed in 2015.
“Sa una akusasyon nila (NPA) ko. Pero wala'y proof ug wala maka-prove ang kontra sa judge. Basin tungod sa declaration ni Duterte nga terrorist ang CPP-NPA, unya kadtong mga sangkot sa political detainees kay matawag naman gyod ko political detainee posible nga ingon ana. Mao nay duda nako,” he said during an interview with reporters.
Sacamay however did not deny that he was a former member of a militant group, United Farmers Organization (UFO) in 1977, but he said he immediately left the group even before the leader died.
He also admitted that he was an active member of the Kilusang Pagbabago that actively campaigned for the current president during the 2016 elections.
“Nagmahay lang ko nganong na in-ana kay kung sa gobyerno, dili ni siya makapahilom sa mga gireklamo sa mga tawo. Dapat i-resolve ni ang problema sa mga tawo. Dapat atubangon sa kagamhanan ang problema, susama karon sa akong bahin nakuratan lang ko. Malasa ako pay nagkampanya ako pa'y gidakop karon,” Sacamay said.