NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office director Major General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. yesterday lauded members of the Malabon City Police Station for arresting two armed suspected riding-in-tandem criminals, one of them wanted for a series of deadly shooting incidents in Metro Manila since 2019.

“The incidental discovery of the firearms during a checkpoint operation highlights the vigilance and commitment of our police in ensuring public safety,” said the NCRPO chief in lauding the members of the Malabon City Police Sub-Station 1 who apprehended the suspects while they were manning an anti-criminality checkpoint at the corner of Governor Pascual and Nangka Road in Barangay Potrero at around 4 a.m. Wednesday.

The suspects were identified as Allan Soriano, 23, of Binondo, Manila found to be using a different name ‘Allan Ace Toledo Cabanayan’, and Cir Sandricks Vipinosa, 41, of Tondo, Manila.

An investigation showed the suspects were involved in a shooting incident in an alley in Gate 56, Area H, Parola, Binondo, Manila on Wednesday and they were wanted by the Manila Police District.

Soriano had standing arrest warrants for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 issued by a Manila court on October 17, 2019; a double murder case in Bgy. 106 in Raxabago St. in Tondo last April 22; a murder case in Bgy. 96, also in Raxabago last September 5; a murder case in Bgy. 679 in Ermita, Manila last September 25; and another murder case along 12th Avenue in Bgy. 90, Caloocan City last October 24.

He also had two arrest warrants for murder issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branches 52 and 174.

On the other hand, Vipinosa in 2020 was charged with violation of RA 9165 for illegal possession of dangerous drugs in Bgy. 6 in Tondo.

Maj. Gen. Nartatez acknowledged that the continuing conduct of Metro Manila- wide anti-criminality operations/checkpoints led to the arrest of the two suspects who were believed to be fleeing after getting involved in a gun attack in Binondo early morning Wednesday.

He said that officers accosted the two initially for not wearing crash helmets in violation of the Helmet Law. However, while being asked to produce their vehicle registration papers and driver’s license, the two acted suspiciously prompting the lawmen to frisk them.

The two who yielded loaded firearms failed to present gun papers including their Permit-to-Carry-Firearms-Outside-of-Residence prompting the Malabon policemen to arrest them.

Recovered from the duo were one Kahr Arms Worcester Ma caliber .40 semi-automatic pistol with a magazine containing five live ammunition and a 9mm pistol with a magazine with four bullets. The blue Suzuki motorcycle with plate no. 4312CU they were riding was impounded by the Malabon police.

Both were charged with violation of RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013.

Maj. Gen. Nartatez instructed the Northern Police District headed by Brigadier Gen. Rizalito G. Gapas and the Malabon City Police Station led by Colonel Jay B. Baybayan to ensure that there will be a proper investigation of the two to determine their involvement in possible gun-for-hire activities in Metro Manila.