Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have arrested a police sergeant tagged in two slay attempts in Negros Oriental in a follow-up operation inside Camp Crame in Quezon City.
While the CIDG described Police Staff Sgt. Noel Santa Ana Alabata, Jr. as an alleged hitman of the Teveses, he was arrested using two arrest warrants for cases of attempted murder and attempted homicide issued by two courts in Dumaguete City.
“The accused was formerly assigned to PDEG (Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group) R6 (Region 6) and allegedly used by the Teves as a hitman for a certain ‘Ong’, a rival of the Teves in their business,” the CIDG said quoting its director Police Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat, Jr.
“Our verification is ongoing on the accused who was tagged as gunman of the Teveses to know if he is involved in other cases. We will be fair on all the information that we would obtain to ensure that justice will prevail,” Caramat added.
The CIDG has been focusing on cases of killings in Negros Oriental following the death of Negros Oriental Gov. Noel Degamo and at least nine others in a daring assassination near his residence in Pamplona town on March 4.
Raids were conducted and cases have been filed against some members of the Teves family in connection with the operations that resulted in the confiscation of cache of firearms.
Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnie Teves was tagged as among the masterminds in the killing of Degamo but the solon repeatedly denied the allegations. Teves is currently out of the country and is facing expulsion from the House of Representatives.
Alabata was arrested on Tuesday, May 16, in front of the PDEG Building at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
He was later taken to the CIDG office for documentation and custody while awaiting a Commitment Order from the issuing courts.