Sunday, July 09, 2006
Police probes if gang leader protected?
By Maricar Aranas
PROVINCIAL Police Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe has ordered an in-depth investigation to verify reports that former militiaman and notorious Mabinay rob gang leader Nonito Galvez is protected by influential people.
A joint team of the Mabinay police and the Regional Police Mobile Group arrested Galvez during the weekend at his house in Sitio Tuburan, Barangay Baras, Mabinay through a search warrant issued on June 26 by Judge Ismael Baldado.
Buenafe did not give details about Galvez's alleged protectors, only saying that based on unconfirmed reports, they included top army and police officials and lawyers.
He said the investigation was necessary to unearth and identify the former militiaman's alleged influential connections.
Meantime, the police leadership will honor the Mabinay police headed by Inspector Teddy Picardal and the Mobile Group in Central Visayas for the arrest Galvez, whose group terrorized the Mabinay-Bais City hinterlands.
Buenafe said the command recognized the efforts of the Mabinay police and the mobile group, which he said, showed that the police force was serious in the campaign to arrest criminals.
Galvez's arrest came after police launched a manhunt for him and four other men, two of whom were identified only as alias Regor and alias Odoy, following the hold-up on June 21 of sugar cane planter Richman Panisales, 47, single of Sitio Bagna, Barangay Poblacion, Mabinay.
The group, carrying high-powered firearms, broke into Panisales's house and divested the planter of P400,000.
On their way out they held-up another man and escaped with the latter's P20,000.
Receiving the report on June 26, police launched a manhunt but failed to collar the suspects.
Armed with a search warrant issued by Baldado the operatives, augmented by officers from the mobile group, rushed into Galvez's house in Baras.
The search yielded an Amscor calibre .45 pistol, four magazine, 25 live bullets, a fragmentation hand grenade, and face bonnets.
Galvez did not resist arrest and has been charged for robbery and illegal possession of firearms and explosives. His three companions remain at-large
The gang has been blamed for the series of hold-ups, robberies, and cattle-rustling in Mabinay.
(July 9, 2006 issue)
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