Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 17) — After several years of manhunt, police have arrested Ernesto Salas, a suspect in the killing of 15 people in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental and the alleged leader of a criminal group operating in various parts of the country.
Salas, 49, is from Ozamiz City. He was apprehended in Malabon City on Jan. 8.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group – National Capital Region Chief PCol. Hansel Marantan said the suspect is the leader of the Salas Criminal Group which is involved in illegal drug trade and gun-for-hire services in Ozamiz City, General Santos City, and Metro Manila.
Police said Salas is also one of the gunmen of Ardot and Aldong Parojinog, members of the Parojinog Group in Misamis Occidental.
Salas has eight warrants of arrest for the crimes of murder and double murder. All were issued in 2018.
The suspect allegedly killed some entrepreneurs in Ozamiz City.
“Magaling magtago [He’s good at hiding]. If he was able to murder as per the allegation of the warrant, he was able to assassinate 15 people. He must have mastered his craft already,” Marantan said Wednesday.
“I apologize it took us several years para mahuli siya pero it’s late but nahuli naman siya [to catch him and it’s late, but we caught him],” he added.
Marantan said the suspect may have chosen to hide in Metro Manila because he could blend in with millions of Filipinos in the capital region unlike in the province.
