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Former Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology prexy wanted for murder of COA auditor arrested

Philippines | Luzon

Former Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology prexy wanted for murder of COA auditor arrested

By Liza Jocson

Police apprehended in Bacolod City on Friday, Jan. 24, the former president of the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology accused of malversation of public funds and the murder of a lady Commission on Audit auditor in Zamboanga City in 2007.

WANTED PERSON.jpg

CARAECLE mugshot

A composite team led by the Regional Intelligence Unit-6 served a warrant of arrest issued on March 25, 2008 by a Zamboanga City court against the suspect, Ernie Aracena Caraecle, for the murder of Vilma Aguias after almost 20 years on the run.

Caraecle was found guilty of masterminding the murder of Aguias, department head of the COA, while on her way to work on Aug. 2, 2007. He went into hiding along with other suspects after being tagged in the murder.

Police arrested in September 2008 a Zamboanga City policeman, Police Officer 1 Arthur Gomez, in Makati City for allegedly planning the murder of Aguas.

Lawmen also arrested gunman Eduardo Tan, alias Kabayo, who identified Caraecle as the mastermind of the murder. He said Caraecle wanted Aguas killed after she discovered anomalies during his tenure as president of the ZSCMST.

Caraecle was found guilty in June 2014 by the Sandiganbayan of malversation of public funds for depositing P30,000 as payments for facilities rented by the Western Mindanao Community Initiative Projects in 2003 and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He is expected to serve both sentences.

Related Tags

Bacolod City Ernie Aracena Caraecle Zamboanga City Deaths MURDER Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology

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