Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have arrested a former member of the New People’s Army (NPA) hit squad in an operation in Makati City, NBI Director Nestor M. Mantaring said on Thursday.

Mantaring identified the suspect as Vincer Sapungan who was tagged in the killing of eight policemen in 2000.

In its report, the NBI Interpol Division under Head Agent lawyer Claro de Castro Jr. said Sapungan was also implicated in at least 25 cases of execution.

The suspect was reportedly a former member of the NPA hit squad in Oriental Mindoro. He was reportedly one of those who took part in the ambush of a group of policemen in Sitio Mamao, Victoria, Oriental Mindoro on July 4, 2000.

The July 4, 2000 ambush resulted in the killing of eight policemen and the wounding of four others. He and his NPA companions were eventually charged with multiple murder and frustrated murder.

NBI records revealed that Sapungan had several cases of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder. The NBI Calapan District Office (CALDO) filed a murder case against him for the death of Ernando de Juan on Nov. 24, 2003. He was then charged in a conspiracy with a certain “Eddie “Bicol” Godoyo and Josan Sapungan in the killing of De Juan with a long firearm.

Two more murders cases were filed against him at the Calapan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 40, for the death of one Cleofe G. Teofilo on May 15, 2004 in Barangay Villa Cereza and for the death of Manalo M. Ciriaco in Barangay Alcate, both in Victoria, Oriental Mindoro.

He was reportedly engaged in gun-for-hire activities after leaving the Communist Party of the Philippines (CCP) – NPA years ago and allegedly hiding in Taguig City when NBI operatives arrested him recently.

The NBI conducted a series of surveillance on Sapungan that led to his arrest in Makati City. He is presently detained at the NBI Jail.