AN ALLEGED leader of a criminal group including six others were arrested by joint operatives of the Cordillera Region and Isabela province over the past four days in separate operations.
Joel Ganado Abenoja, 40, farmer, suspected leader of a criminal group involved in land grabbing and gun running activities operating in Quezon town, Isabela was arrested on October 12 in his residence in Barangay Callangigan, this town, while confiscated from him is one fragmentation hand grenade.
Meanwhile, two alleged members of the Seguncia Group identified as Bacuyag Bacuyag Cawas, 52 and Arsenio Candelario Antonio, 66, both farmers and residents of Pinagan, Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga, were captured in Barangay Estrada, Quezon, Isabela.
Confiscated from the suspects are one M16 Colt AR 15 rifle, one M14 US Springfield rifle, 312 pieces of ammunitions for M16, M14, and shotgun; 16 magazines for M16 and M14 rifle, two improvised shotgun, two black bonnet, one upper garment camouflage army uniform; and one tactical pants.
Both criminal groups are operating in the municipality of Quezon, Isabela, and other adjacent municipalities of the provinces of Kalinga and Isabela.
Police said the two are newly-identified criminal groups and will be charged violating Republic Act 10591 otherwise known as “the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.
The three were arrested by joint intelligence personnel of PRO-COR, Criminal Intelligence and Detection Group Regional Field Unit 2 Isabela, Isabela Provincial Police Office and Regional Intelligence Unit-14 PNP Intelligence Group.
During a simultaneous implementation of search warrant against loose firearms, four gun holders were also separately nabbed in Abra and Mt. Province.
Jodel Batalon Bajo, 21, construction worker, was arrested at Baranga. Calot, Bangued, Abra by joint police personnel on October 12.
Seized from him were one GA12 shotgun without serial number, one magazine clip for GA12 shotgun and three (3) ammunitions for GA12 shotgun.
Also arrested were Gabriel Wansi Edduba, Edward Tabbagon Ganggangan, and Walter Tabbagon Ganggangan by joint police personnel on October 14 in their respective residences in Sitio Addang, Bunot, Paracelis, Mt. Province.
Confiscated items are one shotgun, one carbine (M2), one 12 gauge shotgun, one caliber .22 riffle, one improvised shotgun, one caliber .22 rifle; 222 assorted ammunitions; and five (5) magazines for cal. 30 and M16 rifle.
During the operation, 118 assorted ammunitions, 19 assorted magazines for M16 and M14 and two chainsaws were seized in the residences of four individuals who are not around during the search.