SIMULTANEOUS anti-criminality operations conducted by agents of the Cagayan Police Provincial Office on Wednesday led to the arrest of 433 lawbreakers including 14 top most wanted persons in the province, a report to Police Regional Office 2 director, Brigadier General Crizaldo O. Nieves said yesterday.
“This is part of our continuing all-out campaign versus wanted persons, loose firearms and all forms of criminality specifically illegal drug trafficking in the province as ordered by Brig. Gen. Nieves and Philippine National Police chief, General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan,” said Cagayan police director, Colonel Ariel N. Quilang.
Quilang said the one-day Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operation previously known as the PNP’s ‘One-Time, Big-Time’ anti-crime operations led to the arrest of five known shabu traffickers and the seizure of four unlicensed firearms, over a dozen assorted live ammunition and four banned chainsaws.
Twenty-three others were apprehended for illegal gambling; nine for illegal fishing; two for illegal mining; five for illegal logging; five for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013; and two for illegal sale and distribution of petroleum products.
Quilang said that of the 15 Top Most Wanted Persons arrested, two are included in the Regional Level List; two in the Provincial Level List; and 10 in the Municipal Level List. Another 19 persons wanted for violation of offenses punishable under the Revised Penal Code were also jailed by the local police.
The official said that 349 local residents were also apprehended for violation of minimum health protocols including non-wearing of face masks and face shields and drinking in public as well as social distancing.
He said that two of the top targets identified as Loreto Pescador Jr., a 36-year old farmer from Gonzaga municipality and Joseph Fariñas,38, a construction worker from Sanchez Mira were among those arrested.
Quilang said Pescador was arrested by members of the Gonzaga Muncipal Police Station headed by Major Lorvinn Layugan and the Cagayan PPO’s 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company led by Captain Elixer Reofalas inside his residence in Barangay Cabannaban Norte which they raided 6:30 a.m. Wednesday on the strength of a search warrant for illegal possession of drugs.
The service of the search warrant for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 issued by Judge Nicanor Pascual Jr. of the Aparri Regional Trial Court Branch 8 resulted in the seizure of three heat-sealed plastic sachets containing shabu and several drug paraphernalia.
On the other hand, a tracker tam from the Cagayan PPO led by Major Stanley Banan and Lieutenant Joevicent Acoba arrested Fariñas inside Block 1, Interior Bagong Silang in Queensrow, Bacoor City, Cavite 7:20 a.m. yesterday.
Quilang said the suspect is known as the Top 8 regional drug target in Cagayan Valley who is also the subject of a warrant of arrest for rape issued on April 13, 2012 by Executive Judge Leo Reyes of the Sanchez Mira RTC Branch 12.
No bail was recommended for the temporary liberty of the suspect, said the official.
