CIDG nabs suspect in blast that killed footballer Keith Absalon

Authorities arrested a suspect in the killing of Far Eastern University football player Kieth Absalon and his cousin labor leader Nolven Absalon in a 2021 Masbate City improvised explosive device blast.

Suspect Dindo “Ka Ruel” Monsanto was arrested by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in a residential area in Malabon City past 2 a.m., according to Marisol Abdurahman’s “24 Oras” report on Tuesday.

Monsanto was allegedly the commanding officer of the Regional Operations Command of the Bicol Region Party Committee, and a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front.

Authorities had offered a P1.2 million reward for his arrest.

“Yung nirerentahan na apartment, heavily guarded talaga na yung perimeter fence makikita niyo yun. Malaking dagok sa hanay ng CPP-NPA sa kanyang pagkaaresto,” said CIDG Director Police Brigadier General Romeo Caramat Jr.

(The rented apartment was heavily guarded. You saw the perimeter fence. His arrest is a major blow to the CPP-NPA.)

Police recovered an M16 rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, a grenade, and ammunition at the suspect’s house.

“Habang itong si Keith Absalon ay nagja-jogging along road side eh siya, at road side bombing, at saka binaril sila,” he said.

(While Keith Absalon was jogging along the roadside, there was a bombing and they were shot.)

Monsanto was also accused of leading a March 2021 attack on a police station in Daraga, Albay in which five policemen were killed.

He was also allegedly behind the burning of 11 heavy machines used for work at the Bicol International Airport.

He has eight warrants of arrest.

“For several counts of murder, frustrated murder at saka yung Anti-terrorism Act ng 2020 yun po mga kinakaharap niya (he is also facing the Anti-terrorism Act of 2020),” Caramat said.

Monsanto, however, denied the accusations.

He is being held at the custodial facility of the CIDG.

An autopsy performed by the Masbate City Health Office on the Absalon cousins found that Nolven had been shot in the right shoulder and his left lateral thigh. Kieth had a gunshot wound in his right eye.

Both victims had died of hemorrhagic shock secondary to the gunshot wounds and blast injuries from the IED explosion.

Communist rebels had expressed remorse over the incident and said that their parties took full responsibility for the killings. They would also launch an independent investigation into the deaths. — Richa Noriega/DVM, GMA Integrated News