CIDG official links crime gang to destabilization plot

A ranking police official linked yesterday a criminal syndicate to the coup plot against the government.

Director Jesus Versoza, chief of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), said their initial investigation revealed some members of the Bantugon and Black Shark criminal syndicate have been working with fugitive former senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan for a power grab.

This developed as the CIDG filed charges of illegal possession of firearms against the 15 gang members headed by brothers Arthur and Roland Blanco and Leonilo Bantugon.

Except for Bantugon who was able to escape during a raid by security forces on Friday, all suspects have been accounted for.

"Documentary and testimonial evidence on the recent activities of Bantugon and Black Shark all point to moves to destabilize the government," Versoza said.

He said among the crime group’s plans was the assassination attempt on Batangas Gov. Armand Sanchez who survived the slay try even after his Hummer vehicle was blown up in a car bomb attack last month.

The Magdalo group of renegade junior officers, introducing themselves as Taong Bayan at Kawal (Tabak), immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing.

"We are following up information that the Bantugon and the Black Shark crime group bankrolled the bomb attack in the amount of P3 million which according to our informant was carried out by fugitive Army officers," Verzosa said.

The group reportedly gave P3 million to an unnamed official of the province, who in turn reportedly forwarded the money to Honasan’s group.

What also puzzled authorities was that the raid on safehouse of Bantugon and that of the Blanco brothers indicated the places are being utilized as a firearms storage area. — Jaime Laude