By CESAR JOLITO III

Police arrested the ninth most wanted fugitive in the Negros Island Region (NIR) during a law enforcement operation at Barangay Cabacungan in Negros Occidental’s La Castellana town on Monday, February 2.

The suspect, identified by police as 50-year-old alias “Rom,” a laborer and a resident of Sitio Buros in the town, was apprehended after authorities served a warrant of arrest for murder.

The operation was jointly carried out by La Castellana police, the Police Intelligence Unit, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, and the Regional Intelligence Unit of the Police Regional Office in NIR.

Police said the arrest stemmed from a murder case in which “Rom” allegedly conspired with two other individuals following a drinking session.

Investigators reported that the victim was allegedly stabbed and subsequently went missing for several days before his remains were found in a sugarcane plantation.

“Rom” is currently detained at the municipal police station under the custody of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office for proper legal disposition./CJ, WDJ