Suspect in killing of two Japanese in Culion now in Palawan jail

January 1, 2018

A suspect in the killing two Japanese nationals in Culion last May has been arrested by police in Tarlac and brought to Palawan on Sunday, an official said.

Now detained at the Palawan Provincial Jail is Leovino Anicete, 66, the remaining suspect in the deaths of Masaru Itaru and Yoshihiru Arai in May 2017, according to Teodoro Jose Matta, provincial legal officer of Palawan on Sunday.

Anicete was arrested in Barangay Uno, Pura town in Tarlac on December 30 by virtue of a warrant by Judge Arnel Cesar of Palawan Regional Trial Court Branch 49 in Puerto Princesa for murdering the two Japanese.

The Palawan provincial government said Anicete's arrest was the  result of initiative and operations of the peace and order program under the Governor Jose Ch. Alvarez and the Provincial Law Enforcement Task Force.

The alleged mastermind, Hiroyuki Nagahama, is set for hearing on January 18-19 at RTC Branch 49. Other suspects, namely Carlos Diaz Francisco, Reynante Labampa and Bernardo Radam are detained at the provincial jail. DMS