For untiring effort to account for more wanted persons in PH

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar has commended the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) headed by Colonel Rudolph B. Dimas for their successful campaign to neutralize notorious kidnappers and other most wanted persons in the country.

“I would like to commend the efforts of the PNP-AKG to not only arrest incidents of kidnappings-for-ransom but also for their unrelenting campaign to jail persons wanted for heinous crimes including rape and murder in the country,” Gen. Eleazar, a former anti-kidnapping official instrumental in the neutralization of some of the country’s most wanted kidnappers told the Journal Group.

Over the past seven weeks, PNP-AKG operatives under Col. Dimas of PNP Academy Class 1992 have accounted for 16 most wanted rape suspects as part of their effort to prevent the accused from preying on more victims if they remain at-large.

Last April 23, PNP-AKG operatives gunned down Arnel Capangpangan, a most wanted rape suspect during an operation in Liloan, Cebu. Two co-accused of the slain suspect identified as Marlou and Ariston were arrested during the same operation.

Five days later, PNP-AKG officers arrested Judy Ann Balagot, wanted for an attempted homicide case in Barangay Lagao, General Santos City. Another wanted rape suspect identified as Ramon Christopher Babasa was arrested in Bgy. San Isidro in Parañaque City last April 28.

A 5th rape suspect identified as Henessy Opeña was also arrested by PNP-AKG members in his hiding place in Bgy. Don Galo in Parañaque City on the same day.

Last May 3, the PNP-AKG also arrested Jomar Tulod, a man wanted for murder with no bail recommended in his hiding place in Signal Village in Lower Bicutan, Taguig City.

On May 4, the same unit arrested Jerwel Cabigayan who is wanted for a qualified rape case in Bgy. Bakhaw, Leyte with no bail recommended for his liberty by the local court.

On the same day, PNP-AKG men also arrested Bernard Valenton, another most wanted rape suspect in EDSA, Caloocan City. No bail was also recommended by the court for the temporary freedom of the accused.

Last May 5, PNP-AKG agents arrested Dennis Morales, a man wanted for murder during an operation in Alcala, Pangasinan. The court also did not allow the suspect to post bail for his temporary liberty.

Another most wanted rape suspect identified as Ronilo Barrios was tracked down in his hiding place in Estancia, Iloilo by the PNP-AKG on the same day.

Last May 7, the PNP-AKG reported the capture of Richard and Johhny Jordan, both subject of a warrant of arrest for murder with no bail recommended by the court in their hiding place in Bgy. Narra in Bayawan City in Negros Oriental.

Two days later, PNP-AKG personnel arrested Rene Libredo, a most wanted rape suspect in Bgy. Bunawan in Calamba, Misamis Occidental.

Last May 11, the PNP-AKG also arrested Renier and Nestor Aretaño, both wanted for murder with no bail recommended by the court in Lala-uan, Antique.

On the same day, PNP-AKG men also arrested Mike Aldrin Cainglet, a man wanted for kidnapping-for-ransom with no bail recommended by the court during an operation in Makati City.

Last May 22, another rape suspect identified as Anthony Daniel Salazar was arrested by members of the unit in Project 4, Quezon City. The suspect is also facing a non-bailable offense.

Three days later, PNP-AKG operatives captured Ramil Bahian, the subject of a warrant of arrest for three counts of rape with no bail recommended by the court during a manhunt operation in Kawit, Cavite.

Last May 28, Elmar Damayo, also the subject of a non-bailable rape offense was captured by the PNP-AKG in his hiding place in Balasan, Iloilo.

The following day, PNP-AKG men arrested Felix Victor Jr., the subject of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 in a manhunt operation in Tagbilaran City in Bohol.

So far this month, the PNP-AKG has already accounted for 12 most wanted persons in the country namely Paquito Santua, wanted for rape in Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental; Erwin Carpio, wanted for rape in General Natividad, Nueva Ecija; Hopni Grabano, wanted for violation of RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 20113 in Cabatuan, Iloilo;

Wilter Parinasan, wanted for a non-bailable RA 9165 case in Dauis, Bohol; Rodolfo Barbo and Rogelio Dagami, both wanted for attempted murder in Tabontabon, Leyte; Almusa Bacolod, wanted for a non-bailable murder and theft case in Bgy. Bulacan in Zamboanga del Norte;

Kenneth Legaste, a man wanted for an attempted rape case with no bail recommended in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo; Eduardo Villasencio, wanted for a non-bailable rape case in Balamban ,Cebu; James Louie Bongalos, wanted for violation of RA 10591 with no bail recommended in Tagbilaran City in Bohol; Allan Otchia, wanted for a non-bailable rape case in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan; and Eric Aguirre, wanted for violation of RA 9165 in Bacolod City in Negros Occidental.

Gen. Eleazar has ordered the PNP-AKG to further intensify their effort to account for wanted kidnappers and other criminals in the country to help keep the streets safe.

According to the top cop, the PNP-AKG will play a major role not only in their effort to further curb down incidents of kidnapping-for-ransom but also in hauling to jail all persons who are already the subject of warrants of arrest issued by different courts nationwide.

Since the start of the year, the PNP-AKG has accounted for most wanted rape suspects, some of them in hiding 20, 15 or 10 years ago earning the unit commendations from the PNP leadership.

The PNP chief said that the PNP-AKG has proven to all that the long arm of the law will always catch up with wanted criminals.

The PNP-AKG has joined the national police’s massive campaign to account for all wanted persons across the country, whether they are kidnappers, murderers, robbers and rapists as part of the PNP’s effort to bring justice to the victims of these wanted men.

Since last February PNP-AKG operatives have already hauled to jail over 100 wanted personalities, shot dead 13 armed criminals in gunbattles and rescued seven POGO-related kidnapping-for-ransom victims.

Of the wanted persons sent to jail by the unit, 52 are included in the list of Top Most Wanted Persons in the national, city and municipal levels.

Dimas has ordered all AKG field units to further step up their effort to account for most wanted persons in their jurisdiction as instructed by Gen. Eleazar. “I have instructed the AKG Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao Field Units as well as other AKG operating units to go all-out in accounting for all wanted persons in our list, specifically those who have been ordered arrested by the court,” said Dimas who used to be an ‘operative’ of the now defunct Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response, now known as the PNP-AKG.

“We’re launching intelligence-driven operations to account for most wanted criminals in the country with the help of the community and other law enforcement agencies. This is now one of our main thrusts apart from going all out to neutralize kidnapping-for-ransom gangs and wanted kidnappers in the country,” the 53-year old Dimas said.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon