Police arrest four in separate raids

CEBU, Philippines - Four suspected criminals were arrested in separate police operations over the weekend.

Elements of the Provincial Intelligence Branch of the Cebu Provincial Police Office scored two of the four arrests. The two others were arrested by the members of the Balamban police station and the Regional Public Safety Company.

The suspects are identified as Levi James Villanueva, 19, of Barangay Tahao, Pinamungajan; Nilo Gako, 40, resident of Poblacion, Toledo City; Ronnie Cansiko, 34, of Brangay Prenza Balamban; and Isagani Aguirre, 28, of Barangay Liki, Ronda.

Villanueva and Gako were both arrested by PIB operatives on separate occasion. Villanueva was arrested during a buy-bust operation in Pinamungajan at 6:00 p.m. Saturday while Gako was arrested few hours later in Barangay Poblacion, Toledo City.

The police recovered several packs of shabu from Villanueva and a .38 revolver. Police Officer 2 Cielo Quimat said they also recovered the P300 buy-bust money from Villanueva.

Villanueva is said to be a member of a robbery gang responsible in the spate of robberies in Toledo City. He was allegedly tagged by witnesses in the robbery and murder of Maria Belen Santillan in Barangay Don Andres Soriano last Wednesday.

Few hours after Villanueva’s arrest, PIB operatives received an armed person alarm in Barangay Poblacion, Toledo City where they arrested Gako at 10:00 p.m.

The police also seized a large pack of shabu worth P35,000 and a caliber .45 pistol from the suspect.

In a separate operation conducted by the members of the Balamban police, Cansiko was arrested for possession of illegal drugs and a .357 revolver.

Cansiko is said to be a level 2 drug pusher in Barangay Prenza, Balamban. Meanwhile, Aguirre was arrested in Cebu City by the operatives of the Regional Public Safety Company.

Aguirre, who has a pending warrant of arrest for murder before the Regional Trial Court in Barili, was spotted by the police along Archbishop Reyes Ave.

The team led by Sr. Insp. Rolando Aliser immediately served the warrant of arrest issued by Judge Leopoldo Cañete on Aguirre.

Aliser said that Aguirre tried to elude arrest but he was eventually arrested after a brief chase.

Aguirre is allegedly a member of a gun-for-hire syndicate operating in the towns of Dumanjug, Ronda, and Alcantara in 2009 and 2010. The police have been tracking him since 2009 but he allegedly went on hiding in Negros Oriental. – (FREEMAN)