“INTELLIGENCE packets’ provided by agents of the Philippine National Police Intelligence Group (PNP-IG) to different police units across the country this month have resulted in the successful arrest of dozens of most wanted persons including those involved in terror attacks, kidnappings and illegal drug activities, the Journal Group learned yesterday.

PNP chief, General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. lauded the PNP-IG which is under the supervision of PNP Director for Intelligence, Major Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. for its invaluable support to their crackdown on terror and criminality.

Last June 13, an intelligence packet provided by the Regional Intelligence Unit 9 triggered a major police counter-terror operation in Sitio Kalang, Barangay Amaloy in Unkaya Pukan, Basilan.

Members of the PNP Special Action Force, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Bangsamoro Administrative Region Police Regional Office and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission got involved in the operation which led to the killing of a most wanted suspect during a gunbattle with officers.

Slain during the operation conducted on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Danilo Bucoy of the Isabela City Regional Trial Court Branch 2 in Basilan was Nuruddin Muddalam alias ‘Commander Not,’ a man wanted for murder with kidnapping and frustrated murder with no bail recommended by the court.

Officers were about to arrest the accused when he opened fire at them triggering a gunbattle which led to the killing of the latter. Recovered from the possession of the slain suspect was an M-16 automatic rifle with three long magazines containing a total of 80 live ammunition.

Described as a remnant of the Abu Sayyaf Group whose members became known for attacking government troops in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan and killing 15 Marine troopers and injuring 13 others during an ambush in the municipality in 2007,the suspect went into hiding and even became the chairman of Bgy. Silangkum in Tipo-Tipo, the PNP-IG reported.

Last June 16, RIU 13 officers also figured in the arrest of suspected New People’s Army (NPA) member Marcial Lajeda, a 51-year old resident of Doña Flavia, San Luis, Agusan del Sur who is wanted for non-bailable murder and frustrated murder cases.

Local policemen and Army soldiers helped arrest the suspect who became wanted for the killing of Army Private First Class Michael Genita and the wounding of Corporal Elvis Valmoria as the soldiers from the Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion were conducting long range patrol in Kilometer 24, Don Alejandro, San Luis municipality.

On the other hand, RIU 6 officers in Western Visayas on the same day facilitated the surrender of Lemuel Gonzales, a 51-year old active NPA member in the province residing in Calinog, Iloilo.

The suspect also yielded a 12-gauge shotgun and a home-made M-16 revolver.

Last June 17, the RIU 12 facilitated the surrender of suspected NPA supporter Camilo Buy-ag in Ambaguio, a 5th-class municipality in Nueva Viscaya. The accused also turned over a cal. .38 revolver and a rifle grenade to local police official.

Last June 16 also saw the PNP-IG helping the local police account for two most wanted persons in the country.

One of the two identified as Julito Escoreal,28, a resident of New Cartagena, Plaridel, Misamis Occidental was caught in his hiding place in Bgy. Rizal in Catigbian, Bohol. The suspect is the subject of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for six counts of statutory rape and has been tagged as the 5th most wanted person in Western Mindanao prior to his arrest.

The 2nd identified as Christopher Bago, 43-year-old resident of Carmen, Agusan del Norte was arrested by RIU 13 and local police operatives near his residence on the strength of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for rape. The suspect was described as the 7th most wanted person in Caraga region.

On the same day, RIU-National Capital Region officers joined the NCR Police Office in arresting Rolando Buban, a 65-year-old resident of Bgy. Mapulang Lupa in Valenzuela City who is wanted for a non-bailable murder case.

The suspect was described as a member of a crime gang involved in gunrunning and illegal drug activities in Navotas and Malabon cities.

RIU 13 personnel helped the Nueva Ecija Police Provicial Office convince nine known members of a criminal gang and partisan armed group operating in General Tinio municipality last June 13.

The nine are said to be involved in gun-for-hire and illegal logging activities in the province.

Last week, the RIU8 partnered with the Leyte police force in arresting Armando Geraldo, a 68-year old resident of Bgy. Higsam in Barugo, Leyte. Recovered from teh suspect were one cal. .45 semi-automatic pistol with a magazine containing a magazine loaded with eight live ammuntion, 26 extra cal. .45 bullets and a holster.

The accused was arrested during the service of a search warrant for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Act of 2013 issued by Judge Lauro Casitllo of the Carigara, Leyte RTC Branch 38.

Another operation in San Isidro, Upper Bagumbayan, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte conducted by RIU 10 and PRO10 officers led I nteh arrest of Daniel Villarta for illegal possession of two home-made 12-gauge shotguns, eight shotgun ammunition and two improvised air guns.

Another ‘intelligence packet’ provided by the RIU7 to the Cebu City Police Office resulted in the dismantling of a drug den in Sito Lower Galili in Bgy. Duljo Fatima last June 14.

Arrested during the anti-narcotics raid were four suspected drug personalities who yielded some 20 grams of shabu worth P136,000, assorted drug paraphernalia and the buy-bust money topped by two marked P100 bills.

Last June 17, RIU10 officers also furnished the ‘intelligence packet’ which resulted in the conduct of an anti-drug operation in Bgy. del Carmen in Iligan City.

Arrested during the sting was Joshua Daki, a 23-year old local resident who yielded seven heat-sealed plastic sachets containing an estimated P13,600 worth of shabu, a marked P500 bill and several drug paraphernalia. Daki was described as the 4th most wanted drug personality in the region prior to his arrest.

Both suspects are facing charges for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon