‘Utto’ crime gang member nabbed in Taguig
ONE of the members of notorious “Utto Robbery Hold-up Group” involved in a series of robbery hold-ups and proliferation of illegal drugs in the southern area of Metro Manila was collared by authorities in a police operation Monday evening in Barangay Upper Bicutan, Taguig City.
Southern Police District (SPD) P/BGen. Jimili Macaraeg said the arrest of Arnold Varias alias “Noy”, 38, member of Police Hotline Movement (PHMI) and resident of Bgy. Upper Bicutan crippled the illegal activities of his group since he was tasked to conduct surveillance and monitoring in the areas where they were about to strike.
Initial investigation conducted by police showed that earlier, at around 6:00 p.m. on Monday, elements of the Station Intelligence Section received a tip coming from Barangay Information Network (BIN) that Utto Robbery Hold-up Group was planning to rob an establishment along A. Bonifacio St. in Upper Bicutan.
Operatives of the Taguig Police Station Intelligence Section immediately conducted a discreet police operation past 6:00 p.m. along A. Bonifacio St. in Upper Bicutan until they chanced upon Varias while casing their target establishment on board a Yamaha NMax motorcycle resulting in his arrest.
When frisked, Varias yielded a caliber .38 revolver with two live bullets in its chamber and a fragmentation grenade.
The suspect was presented for inquest proceedings before the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office for a case of violation of RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition Act, RA 9516, or Illegal Possession of Explosive and Omnibus Election Code.
“Binabati ko ang mabilis na pagtugon ng ating mga operatiba na nagresulta sa pagkadakip ng miyembro ng Utto Criminal Group. Bilang tungkulin sa isang tahimik at ligtas na pamayanan, kami ay hindi titigil sa aming mga operasyon at pagtugis sa iba pang mga criminal group na kasalukuyang naghahasik ng kanilang masasamang gawain sa ating nasasakupan,” Macaraeg said. By Hector Lawas
