THE Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) is monitoring the possible existence of a private armed group in the province following the apprehension of five alleged members of a newly-identified organized crime group in Salvador Benedicto town on Tuesday, February 5.
Chief Inspector Edison Garcia, public information officer of Nocppo, said they are still verifying with the higher headquarters if indeed the five arrested persons were members of Padayos crime group.
For now, they are suspected to be members of a potential private armed group, he added.
On Tuesday, February 5, suspects Armando Remotigue, Antonio Baluran, Bernie Bantilan, Joel Condes, and Jolito Tanoco were served with arrest warrants for murder with no bail in Barangay Bagong Silang.
They were allegedly behind the killing of Charlie Buli Buli, former commander of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, in the town in July 2017.
Police also alleged that they have a connection with the New People's Army, a report which the authorities are still validating.
As of now, authorities have not monitored any private armed group in the province, Garcia said.
However, they are intensifying their intelligence monitoring since the midterm and local elections is approaching.
He said they will immediately arrest persons wanted for various crimes.
From there, we can do a background check to determine if they are members of a certain crime group or private armed group or even involve in gun-for-hire, he said.
We will be aggressive against them, he added.
The Padayos crime group, according to the police, has more than 10 members, and reportedly operating also at the First District of the province.