After almost 10 years in hiding, a 62-year-old Christian church pastor who was convicted of a homicide charge was arrested by police in Ubay.

Benedicto Raña who was convicted in 2010 for stabbing a man dead was apprehended by police at the Casate Christian Church in Ubay on Sunday night, said Corporal Randy Tutor of the Ubay Police Station.

Raña, who was then a butcher and a barangay tanod, said that after his conviction he fled to Mindanao where he became part of a church called “Assembly of God.”

In the span of nine years, Raña discreetly frequented Ubay and thought that police were no longer looking for him. He decided in 2018 to permanently relocate to the town to be with his family.

According to Tutor, they received information on Raña’s whereabouts last week and immediately looked for him in the town to serve the search warrant.

Raña admitted to stabbing a man dead in 1998. The victim was one of two men who allegedly bullied his two younger brothers and collected money from them.

“Nahitabo adto, igo ra ko nilaban. Kay akong mga manghod, si Fidel ug Melchor, hing sumbong nako na kanunay silang atangan pangayuan og kwarta, palit og pang-inom,” he said.

The stabbing incident happened after the victim and his companion allegedly threw rocks at Raña while he was driving a tricycle. He was on his way to a slaughterhouse in Ubay where he worked. Raña was irate when he repeatedly got hit by rocks.

“Gi pauwanan mi og bato, nagsakay mi’g tricycle. Ni hunong mi sa daplin, nanghapa mi…Wa na man ko kaagwanta kay daghan lagi’g sumbong akong manghod… Akong giluksoan, unya ako nalang gidretso og dunggab. Ika duha sa tiyan,” he said.

Raña was immedaitely apprehended after the incident and was able to post bail a month after his arrest some time in 1998. He was convicted of homicide in 2010.

For now, Raña remained detained at the Ubay Police Station pending his transfer to a penitentiary. (A. Dodyora with C. Remolador)