A suspected “notorious” robber and his three companions were found dead in separate areas in Negros Occidental Saturday, January 8.
They were identified as Arnold “Aki” Cuadra, 30, of Barangay 2; Jhundelle Rafols, 25, his cousin Leonil Rafols Jr., 26, of Barangay 1; and Rene Boy “Kogan” Dacillo, 30, of Brgy Vista Alegre, all of Bacolod City.
They were allegedly members of the Aki Cuadra robbery hold-up group that has been operating in Bacolod, Talisay and Silay cities.
The Rafols cousins and Dacillo – were abducted from Cuadra’s rented house in Villa Homes Subdivision, Barangay Vista Alegre, Friday night, January 7, police investigation showed.
Their leader, Cuadra, was able to escape but the unidentified suspects onboard two vehicles went after him.
His body, with multiple gunshot wounds, was found at the riverbank at the back of Trinity Christian School in Villa Angela Subdivision, Brgy. Villamonte, 7:45 a.m. Saturday.
Residents heard several gunshots before the body of the victim was discovered.
Capt. Elmer Bonilla, Police Station 7 head, said four warrants of arrest for illegal drugs and robbery hold-up were issued against Cuadra.
The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) had earlier formed a tracker team to arrest Cuadra and his group.
Cuadra’s abducted companions were also found dead.
Dacillo was found at around 1:30 a.m. at Brgy. Atipuluan, Bago City, by residents who heard several gunshots and saw an unidentified vehicle.
The victim succumbed to several gunshot wounds to his body, but the police did not find any fired bullets at the scene.
Five hours later, at around 6:35 a.m., the cousins were discovered in a sugarcane field at Barangay. Bluementritt, Murcia.
Jhundelle’s hands were tied with cable wires, while Leonil was half-naked when they were found.
Empty shells of a .38 caliber pistol, .45 caliber pistol, and .30 caliber carbine rifle were recovered at the scene. Also, a white van was reportedly seen in the area.
Cuadra’s body was discovered an hour later.
Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, acting BCPO director, said he already ordered his men to thoroughly investigate the killings. The victims were said to be involved in various robbery incidents in the city, he said.
He said that the Bacolod police are also coordinating with their counterparts in Bago City and Murcia.
It’s possible that the victims were targeted by their other companions, Martir said.*