PAGADIAN CITY – Police forces killed a former communist rebel – tagged in the ambush of a Filipino lawmaker four years ago – following a firefight in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur, officials said Monday.
Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, a regional police spokeswoman, said police forces over the weekend were trying to arrest Ronel Bation Japay in the village of Campo Dos in Aurora town when he opened fire on the raiders, sparking a gun fight that eventually killed him.
A police photo shows the body of slain hired killer Ronel Japay.
Japay, also a notorious hired killer, was linked to ambush of Iligan City Rep. Vicente Belmonte, Jr., in December 11, 2014 that left him wounded. The attack killed four of Belmonte’s aides and injured 3 others. The group of Belmonte was heading to Iligan City from when gunmen ambushed them.
Belmonte just arrived at the Laguindingan airport and his convoy was heading to Iligan City when gunmen sprayed his vehicles with automatic weapons in Laguindingan town in Misamis Oriental province.
Galvez said the former rebel was also being linked by the police in June 24, 2018 shooting of 61-year old Luz Yabo in Aurora town. “Subject person opted to engage the police personnel in a firefight and attempted to escape in a very steep ravine and was later pinned down during another round of gunfight with the pursuing policemen,” she said.
Policemen also recovered Japay’s .45-caliber pistol and a fragmentation grenade. (Mindanao Examiner)
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