• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Almost two years after his assassination, one of the suspects in the killing of former Negrense police officer, PCol. Rolen Balquin, was arrested on Feb. 29 in Brgy. Bagua, Cotabato City.
In a statement, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group identified the arrested suspect as Orlan Ayunan, 31.
Ayunan faces murder and frustrated murder charges before the Cotabato City Regional Trial Court Branch 13, in connection with the murder of Balquin, who was then serving as head of the Cotabato City Public Order and Safety Office.
Balquin formerly served also as director of the Cotabato City Police Office, prior to his retirement in the police service.
In a statement on Friday, CIDG director Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat disclosed that Ayunan, 31, was among of the suspects in the killing of Balquin and wounding of his security escort in Barangay Rosary Heights, Cotabato City, on March 19, 2022.
Police also seized from the accused a caliber .45 pistol, magazine assembly and eight pieces of live ammunition.
Ayunan is listed No. 3 regional most wanted of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro and No. 7 most wanted person of the Cotabato City Police Office.
Ayunan and the confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to the CIDG Cotabato field office for documentation and proper disposition prior to the return of the warrant of arrest to the court of origin. | GB/PNA
