STEPPED-UP anti-crime operations by agents of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) this week resulted in the killing of an armed most wanted murder suspect following a gunbattle in Maguindanao and the arrest of nine others including five most wanted rape suspects, a report to PNP chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar said on Saturday.

“This is part of our ongoing campaign to account for most wanted criminals in the country including rape and murder suspects,” said PNP-CIDG director Major Gen. Albert Ignatius D. Ferro.

Ferro said that suspect Oting Sawal engaged officers from the CIDG Maguindanao and Cotabato Provincial Field Units in a shootout in Bgy. Kidama in Matanog, Maguindanao early morning last Wednesday and was killed in the process.

The official said that his men, backed up by officers from the local police and the Coast Guard were about to serve a warrant of arrest for murder issued against the suspect by a local court when he resisted and began firing at the lawmen who were forced to retaliate.

The suspect yielded a chamber-loaded caliber .30 Carbine rifle with four magazines containing 40 live ammunition. Ferro said the suspect is wanted for the killing of one Christopher Aldamar in Sitio Kabugao in Bgy. Sapad, Matanog last June.

The nine other suspects were arrested in separate manhunt operations in the countryside last Wednesday.

One of them identified as John Recson Althea, 20, resident of Bgy. Paleg in Dinalungan, Aurora, was arrested on the strength of a warrant of arrest for rape issued by Judge Alejandria Javier-Genota of the Baler, Aurora Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 1.

The 2nd, James Kevin Famularcano, also wanted for rape, was arrested in Sitio Sagpat in Bgy. Malona in San Felipe, Zambales. Judge Mariano Beltran of the Iba, Zambales RTC Branch 13 ordered the arrest of the suspect.

The 3rd identified as Samuel Glodove Son alias “Macz,” 39, was arrested inside the Global Hardware Office in Minglanilla, Cebu on the basis of warrants of arrest for rape and violation of Republic Act (RA) 7610 or the anti-child abuse law issued by Judge Nathaniel Andal of the Cebu City RTC Branch 24.

The 4th, Arturo Ocampo Jr., 36, was arrested in Bgy. Pentor in Dinalupihan, Bataan on the basis of a warrant for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 issued by Judge Amelita Corpus of the Dinalupihan RTC Branch 96.

The five other suspects identified as Danilo Saclagon, 30; Michael Canlas, 28; George Flores, 43; Christopher Francisco, 36; and Marlon Horena, 39, were arrested last Tuesday.

Saclagon and Canlas were arrested in Bgy. Bag-ong Valencia in Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur on the strength of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for murder issued by Judge Analyn Fernando Ramas-Costanilla of the Molave, Zamboanga del Sur RTC Branch 23.

Flores, tagged as the 6th most wanted person in Lobo, Masbate, was arrested for a rape case in Bgy. Asig. Judge Ave Zurbito-Alba of the Masbate City RTC Branch 48 ordered the arrest of the accused.

Francisco, the subject of a warrant for murder issued by Judge Mario Andres Jr. of the Laua-an, Antique RTC Branch 64 was served his warrant while in detention at the local police jail.

Horena was arrested in Purok 2 in Bgy. San Agustin in Guimba, Nueva Ecija on the basis of a warrant for two counts of rape issued by Judge Javier-Genota.