FIVE members of a gun-for-hire group, including its leader, were arrested on Sunday in an anti-criminality operation at a checkpoint in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija.
Arrested were Ronnie Hernandez, the 41-year-old leader of the crime group and a resident of Bgy. Macalamcam B., Rosario, Batangas; Alfred Ledezma, 34, of Bgy. Del Carmen, Lipa City, Batangas; Joey Pangilinan, 35, of Bgy. San Lucas, Lipa City, Batangas; Myra Hernandez, 34, of Bgy. Bolihan Malvar, Batangas; and Liezel Awing, 37, of San Juan Batangas.
Based on a report to Police Regional Office 3 director Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr. , joint operatives of the Aliaga police, Provincial Intelligence Unit, Police Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company and the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company – Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office were manning a checkpoint in Bgy. Sto. Rosario in Aliaga town and flagged down the suspects’ Toyota Vios vehicle.
Upon inspection on the car, operatives found shabu, high-powered firearms and explosives.
Confiscated from the suspects were an M16 rifle with magazine and ammunition, three hand grenades, four cal. .45 pistols with magazine and ammunition, at least four grams of shabu worth at least P27,200, and P49,931 in cash.
According to Nueva Ecija police chief Col. Richard V. Caballero, Hernandez group is operating in Region 3, Region 4A and the National Capital Region and have also been tagged as previously involved in several killings in Batangas and Quezon provinces.
Hidalgo commended the operating team as he assured the public of the PRO3’s unrelenting commitment to curb all forms of criminality in the region.
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