Suspect in murder of resort owner arrested in Mindoro

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — A prime suspect in the murder of a resort owner in Bauan, Batangas in June was arrested in Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro, police said yesterday.

Lt. Col. Ryan Hernandez, Bauan police chief, said suspect Rolando Mauro was arrested in Barangay Sto. Niño by members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Batangas and the Bauan police through a warrant issued by Judge Concepcion Billones.

Hernandez said Mauro allegedly killed Carmen Maranan using a flower vase. Mauro is the second most wanted person in Calabarzon and has a bounty of P500,000 offered by Mataas na Kahoy Vice Mayor Jay Ilagan.

Ilagan told The STAR over the phone yesterday that he handed over the reward money to the informant who tipped off police on the suspect’s whereabouts. He said he offered the bounty, even if the crime was not committed in his town, because it happened within Batangas province.