3 suspected rebels nabbed; guns seized

CAMP OLIVAS -- Three alleged members of a break-away group Hukbong Mapagpalayang Bayan (HMB) were arrested Friday for illegal possession of firearms and assorted ammunition.

A barangay chairman from Nueva Ecija was likewise arrested in a separate raid conducted by combined personnel of the Regional Operations Special Task Group (ROSTG) and Philippine Army.

Central Luzon Police Regional Office Director Edgardo Ladao identified the suspects as Arman Maniago alias “Ka Arman” of Barangay Telepayong; Renato Gutierrez and Romeo Gutierrez of Barangay Candading, all in Arayat town; and Mauricio Baltazar, incumbent village chief of Gen. Luna in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija.

The raiding team that swooped down the residences of Maniago, Gutierrez and Baltazar were armed with search warrants issued by Judge Angelo Perez of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 27 in Cabanatuan City and Judge Richard Paradeza of the RTC of Olongapo City, Ladao said.

Confiscated from the house of the Gutierrezes were two M-16 rifles, two .45 caliber pistols, one.22 caliber long firearm, three pieces of magazine assemblies for .45 caliber, 14 bullets for 12-gauge shot gun, 84 ammunition for M-16, 117 bullets for caliber .45, four magazines for M-16 and three short magazines for M-16, 704 bullets for M-16 rifle.

Confiscated from Maniago were a caliber .45 with two magazines loaded with 12 bullets, one super .38 pistol with five ammunition, a .38 revolver with 2ix bullets, two hand grenades, two magazines for caliber .45 and one bulletproof vest.

The arrested suspects and seized items were taken to the police regional office headquarters for documentation and proper disposition while appropriate charges will be filed in court against them, Ladao said.

Pampanga Provincial Police Director R’Win Pagkalinawan said Maniago and the Gutierrezes are alleged members of the HMB.

Pagkalinawan said they are still verifying the information on the three suspects.

Ladao, during a press conference on Friday, lauded the accomplishment and personally congratulated all police personnel involved in the seizure and the arrest of members of a criminal group operating in Pampanga.

He stated that “Oplan Katok”, one of the PNP’s strategies to account loose firearms, has taken effect.

Ladao said the Central Luzon Police Office will continue its unwavering fight to combat criminality within the region, and will continuously invigorate its efforts to achieve a Safe and Fair Election this year. (Ric Sapnu)