FOUR organized crime groups operating in Baguio and adjoining areas were believed busted with the arrest of 16 of their members from January to August 2008.

Cedrick Train, regional chief of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) in the Cordillera, disclosed this in his 2008 annual report.

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He said the suspects were allegedly involved in drug-trafficking, robberies, carnapping and homicide, adding that they were arrested in line with the PNP-CIDG's flagship project Oplan Salikop or campaign against syndicated or organized groups.

In its latest Oplan Salikop operation last August 2, the PNP-CIDG served a search warrant in a suspected safe house of the remaining members of the Nider Group along Siapno Road in Pacdal.

The operation resulted to the arrest of Rey Rivera, Alobert Urbano, Catherine Hieras, Peter John Villareal, Solico Tano, Louie Cleo Pertez, Danica Joy Aquino, Loise Grace Felix and David Kyle Mapanao.

However, the alleged leader of the group identified as Teodolo Arnaiz Villareal, managed to elude arrest. His son Peter John, however, was caught in the act of participating in a pot session during the operation.

Villareal was listed as number one in the region's drug trafficking watch list.

All 10 suspects were subsequently arrested and charged before the Baguio City Prosecutor's Office for alleged violation of Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Law.

On March 24, three members of a "Bekel Gang" operating in Baguio City and La Trinidad, Benguet were arrested for robbery with violence.

Train identified those arrested as Lloyd Mendoza Mateo, Noel Dumalig Gangan and Jonathan Salem Fuentes.

He said the arrest of James Donald McDonald, a suspected leader of the notorious North Side Terrorist Gang, was also made on February 2.

Train said the arrest of McDonald for homicide resulted in the gradual diminishing of an ongoing fraternity war in Baguio.

On January 22, Marcial Bungloy, a member of a carnapping syndicate, was also arrested, leading to the recovery of carnapped motor vehicle owned by Marcelo Quiñones in Mankayan, Benguet. (ENO)