HERMOSA, Bataan – This municipality’s most wanted person and the prime suspect in the killing of a couple engaged in retail business here was arrested by combined forces of Bataan Provincial Intelligence Branch, Bataan CIDG, Hermosa PNP, and Guimba PNP in the province of Nueva Ecija, Monday afternoon.
In a report from Hermosa Police chief, Major Madtaib Jalman, the arrested person was identified as Bernald Nicolas y Dayag, alias “Bong Ilocano,” a resident of Purok 7, Barangay Palihan, Hermosa, Bataan.
Nicolas was arrested in Barangay San Andres, Guimba, Nueva Ecija by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Presiding Judge Lourdes Eltanal Ignacio of Bataan Regional Trial Court Branch 5 based in Dinalupihan, Bataan.
The Robbery with Double Homicide case was filed against Nicolas for the killing of Reginald and Erly Cubilla last December 8, 2018 near their residence in Barangay Palihan, Hermosa, Bataan and alleged stealing of more or less P500,000 cash. The couple was the owner of various retail stores inside the New Hermosa Public Market.
The Hermosa police initially arrested the suspect’s cohort, Leonardo Rieza Jr. last December and was later killed when he allegedly tried to get the service firearm of a police personnel during the tactical interrogation inside the compound of Hermosa PNP station.
Hermosa Mayor Jopet Inton raised a half million-peso bounty for the arrest of Nicolas and other perpetrators of the said crime against the slain couple. Another suspect is still at-large according to the police.
The arrested person was brought to Hermosa municipal police station for proper documentation and disposition.