SIX lawbreakers in Bicol, five of them facing non-bailable charges for murder, rape and illegal drug trafficking were arrested by operatives of the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO5) in separate anti-criminality operations in the region this week, PRO5 director, Brigadier General Jonnel C. Estomo said Wednesday.

One of the arrested suspects was identified as Jurito Cantela alias ‘Ipok,’ a farmer tagged as an active member of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Masbate.

In a report to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, the Bicol police director said Cantela was arrested in Sitio Matang Tubig in Barangay Monreal, Masbate City on Tuesday.

Estomo said the suspect is the subject of a warrant of arrest for murder and attempted murder issued by Judge Arturo Clemente Revil of the San Jacinto, Masbate Regional Trial Court Branch 50 with no bail recommended last February 23. He is being held in a local police jail.

The suspect was implicated in a deadly NPA attack on an Army soldier in Masbate City on April 30, 2020. The Philippine Army sought the help of the PRO5 in filing criminal charges against the leftist gunmen.

The 2nd murder suspect arrested was Ruel Mesa, a resident of Bgy. Cabangcalan in Aroroy, Masbate. Local policemen tracked down the suspect Tuesday and arrested him on the basis of a warrant for murder with no bail recommended by Judge Ronald Bersales of the Sorsogon City RTC Branch 47 last July 13.

The 3rd suspect was identified as Fernando Formoso, a truck driver wanted for rape. He was arrested Wednesday in Bgy. Cabid-an in East District, Sorsogon City. His arrest was ordered by Judge Zach Ziga of the Sorsogon City RTC Branch 12.

Estomo said the suspect went into hiding after a criminal complaint was filed against him by the local police in connection with the rape of the suspect’s 14-year old female neighbor.

The suspect was arrested in Bgy. Poblacion 8 in Cuenca, Batangas.

Another rape suspect identified as Alfredo Bercasio was collared by Bicol police in Bgy. Magadap in Minlalabac, Camarines Sur Wednesday.

Estomo said the suspect, a resident of Bacacay, Albay is the subject of a warrant of arrest for rape issued by Judge Alben Rabe of the Tabaco City RTC Branch 15.

The 5th identified as Renan Vega, a ‘high-value target’ in Bicol region was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Purok 4, Bgy. Gahonon in Daet, Camarines Norte, the official said.

Seized from the suspect’s possession were 16 heat-sealed plastic sachets containing three grams of suspected shabu worth nearly P20,000 and the marked money paid to him by an undercover officer.

Estomo said the sting was conducted by operatives of the Camarines Norte Police Provincial Office under Colonel Julius D. Guadamor with the assistance of the local Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The other drug suspect, Sheen Padura, another ‘HVT’ in the region, was arrested in a manhunt operation in Bgy. San Julian in Irosin, Sorsogon Wednesday.

Members of the PRO5 Regional Drug Enforcement Unit led by Lieutenant Col. Jerry M. Alvarez arrested the suspect on the strength of a warrant for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 issued by Judge Tobias Arriola of the Irosin RTC Branch 55 last February 22.

No bail was recommended for the temporary liberty of the accused who was last arrested in a buy-bust operation on July 19, 2016. On that day, the suspect yielded more than 50 grams of shabu.

Estomo said that the suspect has been tagged as an ‘armed and dangerous drug personality’ in Bicol. She is now locked up at the Irosin police jail.

Drugs Act of 2002, he said.