THE DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government’s most wanted person for a case of murder was arrested on Sept. 27 in Purok 5, Kahayag, New Bataan, Davao de Oro.
The Police Regional Office XI identified him as Romeo Matmat Roloos.
The suspect was arrested in a joint operation involving the Provincial Intelligence Team (PIT) of Davao Occidental’s Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) 11, under the leadership of PCol. Ryan Bobby C. Paloma, and the Regional Intelligence Division (RID), PRO 11, led by PCol. Christopher M. Bermudez.
The New Bataan Municipal Police Station and the Davao De Oro Police Provincial Office, under the supervision of Brig. Gen. Leon Victor Rosete, acting director of PRO XI, also joined the operation.
Roloos, also known as Dingcal, had a standing warrant of arrest for murder (Criminal Case No. 46,765-2001) issued on Oct. 10, 2003, by Regional Trial Court XI Branch 16 Judge Wenceslao E. Ibabao, with no bail recommended.
PRO XI spokesperson Major Catherine Dela Rey said Roloos was one of the suspects in the murder of Police Officer 1 (PO1) Jorge Sapero of the Regional Intelligence Division, PRO XI, on January 7, 2001, at Kabayan Relocation, Tibungco, Davao City.
Sapero was responding to alias Mermer’s call for help who was reportedly harassed by Roloos and six other individuals. However, the group attacked and killed Sapero when he arrived.
While most suspects were arrested following the murder, Roloos evaded capture for years. Reports indicated that he joined the New People’s Army (NPA) in Davao de Oro, aiding his evasion.
Consequently, he was listed as a DILG National Most Wanted Person with a P75,000 reward for his capture, under DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2002-39.
Roloos is currently in the custody of the New Bataan Municipal Police Station.
Rosete commended the operating units for their success, emphasizing the strong commitment of PRO XI to the campaign against criminality.
