EIGHT most wanted persons in the country were hauled to jail by agents of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in a series of manhunt operations this week, a report to PNP chief, General Camilo Pancratius P. Cascolan said yesterday.
Two of the suspects identified as John Harold Mercado, 19; and Jason Michael Vileran, 21, were arrested in front of Quiapo Church in Manila by CIDG Manila District Field Unit operatives on the strength of a warrant of arrest for rape issued by Judge Phrincess Ma. Bajarias-Hermogeno of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 48 last Wednesday.
In Linamon, Lanao del Norte, local CIDG agents arrested 66-year old engineer Joseph Yu, a man described as a leader of a gun-for-hire and gunrunning ring operating in Linamon and its nearby municipalities.
CIDG officers raided the house of Yu in Purok 2-A, Barangay Magoong in Linamon last Thursday morning on the strength of a search warrant for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 issued by Judge Alberto Quinto of the Kapatagan RTC Branch 21 in Lanao del Norte.
Seized during the raid were one caliber .38 revolver, 30 rounds of .38 ammunition and several gun accessories.
Last Monday, CIDG operatives also arrested Arlan Villaruel,34; Joel Fernando,48; and Fernando Espiritu,31, on the basis of warrants for various crimes.
Villaruel, the 7th most wanted man in Mandaon municipality was arrested in Bgy. Pulo-Dacu for a murder case. A warrant for his arrest was issued by Judge Manuel Sese of the Masbate City RTC Branch 44.
Fernando, the subject of a warrant of arrest for child abuse was arrested in Bgy. Esperanza in Sison, Pangasinan while Espiritu, a man wanted for two counts of rape was tracked down in his hiding place in Doclas Village in Pacdal Road in Baguio City.
Fernando and Espiritu are the respective no. 7 and no. 2 most wanted person in Baguio City. Judge Mia Joy Oallares-Cawed of the Baguio City RTC Branch 2 issued the warrants for the arrest of the two.
The same day also saw the arrest of two other most wanted persons in Metro Manila and Central Visayas.
One of the suspect identified as Ruel Busa, a 33-year old technician was served a warrant of arrest for murder issued against him by Judge Elvie Lim of the Borongan City RTC in Eastern Samar in Fort Bonifacio.
Busa was described as the suspected leader of a gang involved in gun-for-hire and gunrunning activities in Borongan, Eastern Samar and is also a suspect in the death of a village chief in Bgy. Banuyo in the same municipality.
Another identified as Narciso Luzano, a 68-year old resident of Lapu-Lapu City was arrested on the basis of a warrant for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 issued by Judge Ruelo Saladaga of the Lapu-Lapu City RTC Branch 69.
The elderly suspect was linked to a gang engaged in illegal drug trafficking and gunrunning, said Coronel.
