EPOGON brothers of the notorious Epogon robbery group operating in Southern Negros were arrested in a successful police operation in Sipalay City on Monday, March 9.
Police identified the Epogon brothers as Francisco Epogon, 29, who is already residing in Sipalay City and his younger brother Ruel Epogon, 25, and resident of Barangay Handumanan, Bacolod City.
Sipalay City police deputy, Police Lieutenant Anthony Saing, said around 9 a.m. on Monday, they were tipped off by a reliable source, that the Epogon siblings were going to visit the city in order to attend the burial of their cousin.
The city’s police force immediately conducted a checkpoint near the Sipalay City Public Cemetery, and a few hours later they flagged down the suspects’ vehicle and served their warrants of arrest.
The warrant of arrest for the crime of theft was issued and signed by Judge Rosario Ester Orda Caise of the Kabankalan City Regional Trial Court Branch 61 against the elder Epogon; while the younger sibling’s arrest warrant stemmed for violation of Presidential Decree No. 1866, in connection to RA 10591, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition issued by Judge Oscar Leo Billena of the Iloilo City Regional Trial Court Branch 66.
A search of the suspects and their vehicle yielded a .45 caliber pistol; two .45 caliber magazines; 20 rounds of .45 caliber bullets; five .22 caliber bullets; one magazine for an M16 assault rifle; one .38 caliber revolver; and five .38 caliber bullets.
The Epogon siblings are presently detained at the Sipalay City Police Station.