ILOILO City – One of the most wanted persons in the country has been arrested in Barangay Magdungao, Passi City.
The 39-year-old Jhon Padernal of Barangay Alimono, Passi City was caught at around 2:50 p.m. on Saturday after 16 years of eluding policemen.
Padernal was a murder suspect in Mindoro. Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Regional Intelligence Division of the Police Regional Office 6 served the arrest warrant issued by Judge Jose Jacinto of the Regional Trial Court, 4B, Branch 45 in Occidental Mindoro.
According to CIDG’s Senior Inspector Teofilo Juanata Jr., Padernal was charged for the death of a certain Aguinaldo Eduardo in Barangay Mangarin, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro on March 28, 2002.
“We’re verifying pa kung pang-ilan si Padernal sa national list ng wanted persons. We received the arrest warrant last week and traced his hiding place in Barangay Magdungao, Passi City. He did not resist arrest,” said Juanata.
At the CIDG detention facility, Padernal admitted shooting Eduardo but insisted it was in self-defense.
He recalled having stayed in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro because his mother had a parcel of land there.
Eduardo hit him on the head during a drinking binge at the victim’s house, said Padernal.
According to the suspect, he returned to his house, took a 12-gauge shotgun and returned to Eduardo’s house.
Because Eduardo had a bolo by then and threatened to attack him, Padernal said he fired a shot.
“I simply defended myself. I knew I had an arrest warrant so I did not resist when the CIDG served it to me,” said Padernal.
Padernal would be transferred to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro this week. No bail bond was recommended for his temporary liberty./PN
