One of the most wanted persons in the Bicol region involved in the killing of two persons and implicated in other crimes has been arrested in Laguna, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced on Tuesday, Jan. 30.
The NBI presented before the media Ruel Cabrillas, 27, who was arrested by joint operatives of the NBI Bicol Regional Office and the NBI Laguna District Office on Monday, Jan. 29, in Canlubang, Laguna.
NBI Deputy Spokesperson Gertrude Gay P. Manandeg said Cabrillas is a member of the Gilbert Concepcion group and is “considered one of the most wanted persons in the Bicol region.”
“Subject Cabillas was allegedly responsible in the killing of Gilbert Quimzon and Glen Quimzon who went missing on June 6, 2021 and whose dismembered cadavers were recovered in June 2022,” Manandeg said.
“Cabillas is likewise linked to the hacking and beheading of victims Melwin Ansay and Marlon Ansay,” she added.
She said that the NBI agents, acting on information they received, went to Laguna to serve the arrest warrant that was issued by the Ligao City Regional Trial Court (RTC) against Cabrillas who is facing charges of kidnapping and murder.
“Cabrillas, during the arrest, voluntarily surrendered himself,” she also said.
NBI agent and lawyer Felipe S. Jimenez Jr., who is handling the case, said Cabrillas has been working at a construction firm in Laguna when he was caught and has been using the alias Roel Arellano.
Jimenez said the four dead persons were among six persons whose dismembered and beheaded remains were discovered by the NBI Bicol Regional Office in Molosbolos in Libon, Albay on June 2022.
He disclosed that Cabrillas had been trained by the late former military man Gilbert Concepcion. “Since he was a minor, he was trained to be a killer by Gilbert kasi kung ‘di siya susunod s’ya rin ang papatayin (Cabrillas has been trained to be a killer by Gilbert because, if he did not do what he was told, he would be killed),” he said.
At the same time, Jimenez revealed that the NBI has been running after the Gilbert Concepcion Group since 2012. “More or less 50 victims of extrajudicial killings were committed by this group,” he added.
He noted that among those killed by the group included Mayor Raul Matamorosa of Lupi, Camarines Sur in 2012, Makati City engineer Nelson Morales in 2012, and broadcaster Joey Llana in 2018.
Despite the death of its leader, Jimenez said the members of the group increased and are now believed to be 80 persons or more which are divided into sub-groups.
“Existing pa po sila (they still exist) and they still possess high-powered firearms up to now and they still conduct extortion activities and murder for hire in Bicol region,” he said.
“Ngayon ang activity ng grupong ito is extortion, kidnapping with murder, murder for hire and kidnap for ransom. Nag-eextort sila sa mga construction firms, kinikidnap nila its either foreman or mga construction engineers. ‘Pag hindi nagbigay pinapatay po nila ito lalo na ‘yung pinagdududahan nila na asset ng gobyerno (This group is currently involved in extortion, kidnapping with murder, murder for hire and kidnap for ransom. They extort construction firms, kidnap its foreman and construction engineers. The group kills those who fail to pay ransom, especially those whom they suspect to be government assets),” he added.