Gun Source: PNP file photo

PNP neutralizes Samar crime gang

January 18, 2025 Alfred P. Dalizon 98 views

AN organized crime gang involved in kidnapping-for-ransom, robbery, gun-for-hire and illegal drug activities in Samar province was neutralized by the Philippine National Police following an ‘intelligence packet’ provided by the PNP Intelligence Group, officials reported to PNP chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil on Saturday.

PNP-IG acting director, Colonel Frankie C. Candelario said Ricardo Valentino Deaglodon, a known member of the Wahingon Gang which is included in the list of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence was killed in a gunbattle with policemen out to arrest him and his cohorts in their hideout in Pido Extension, Barangay East Awang in Calbayog City, Samar.

“This is part of our ongoing effort to neutralize armed crime groups that preys on the community and may cause trouble during the May 12 National and Local Elections,” said the PNP-IG director.

The official said that members of their Regional Intelligence Unit 8, the Calbayog City Police Station, Samar Police Provincial Office and the PNP Special Action Force conducted the operation around 2:30 a.m. Saturday.

Col. Candelario said that during the operation, an undercover officer was able to purchase a KG-9 sub-machine gun from some of the suspects for P22,000. However, the suspects apparently sensed the sting and tried to flee toward the house of Dealogdon.

Officers who tried to give a chase were met with a heavy volume of fire from the occupants of the house prompting them to retaliate. The exchange of gunfire resulted in the killing of Dealogdon and the wounding of a civilian and three members of the police team.

Arrested during the operation were Ryan Tomnob,31; and Mark Magbutay,44; as well as three teenagers with ages 17, 16 and 14-years old. All are now being investigated for their involvement with the Wahingon Gang which was said to be operating in Calbayog City and other parts of the 1st District of Samar.

Recovered during the operation were one caliber 5.56 Colt AR-15 rifle with four steel magazines containing 108 rounds of live ammunition, three cal. .45 Col. Semi-automatic pistols with three magazines containing a total of five bullets, one KG9 machine pistol with a steel magazine loaded with 28 bullets, one cal. .38 revolver with two bullets and three spent cartridges, one disassembled .38 revolver, 61 spent 5.56 casings, three hand-held radios with chargers, a chest rig, two heat-sealed plastic sachets containing around 12 grams of shabu worth at least P74,800 and the buy-bust money topped by a marked P500 bill.

The records of the recovered firearms are being checked with the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office.

Col. Candelario also reported the capture of a wanted members of the New People’s Army in Aroroy, Masbate last Thursday.

He said that Joel Maranita alias ‘Joel Maranta/Jomar,’ a member fo the NPA’s Kilusang Larangan Gerilya North under the CPP/NPA’s Bicol Regional Party Committee was arrested in his hiding place in Bgy. Balete in Aroroy municipality on the strength of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for murder issued by Judge Joyce Gauallo-Llacer of the Masbate City Regional Trial Court Branch 45 on November 22, 2024.

Members of the RIU5, the Aroroy MPS, Masbate Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the PNP-SAF and the Philippine Army joined hands in arresting the accused who was reported to be involved in the killing of one Wilson Espaldon in Bgy. Concepcion in Aroroy on July 14, 2011, said the PNP-IG director.

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