Ex-cop wanted for killing a military officer nabbed in Rizal after 28 years
MANILA, Philippines — A dismissed police officer wanted for killing a military officer was arrested after 28 years in Rizal on Tuesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Fugitive Joel Consuelo Villanueva was a former police sergeant who had been on the list of the most wanted persons in the country. Authorities even offered a reward of P275,000 for any information that could lead to his arrest.
Based on the PNP report, Villanueva was collared by members of the PNP Intelligence Group in Cainta on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Branch 56 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Lucena City for homicide.
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In the 1990s, Villanueva was assigned to the 237th Philippine Constabulary Company in Candelaria, Quezon. He was convicted of homicide after killing an Armed Forces of the Philippines officer in 1991 and was dismissed from service in 1995.
According to the PNP, the suspect escaped the Lucena City jail in the same year and was recaptured in 1996. However, he escaped again while undergoing a medical examination and was on the loose until being captured on Tuesday.
