7 wanted criminals busted in Caloocan

Seven wanted criminals, including a former police investigator-turned drug pusher in Caloocan City and a bogus cop wanted for a string of robbery cases in Malabon City, were arrested in separate operations conducted Sunday night and yesterday by the Caloocan City police.

Senior Superintendent Benjardi Mantele, Caloocan City police chief, said former P03 Nestor Andalan, 41, jobless, formerly with the Caloocan City police Investigation Division, residing at 34 Aklan Street, Bagong Barrio was a fugitive from the law and was arrested on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Caloocan Regional Trial Court Judge Silvestre Bello Jr.

Andalan was earlier convicted and sentenced to six years in prison by the court for violating the Anti-Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972 and had gone into hiding. He was a known drug pusher in the Bagong Barrio area and had been included in the order of battle of the local police force, Inspector Benito Go, warrant section chief, said.

Arresting officers PO3 Nestor Mercado, PO2 Conrado Punzalan, PO1 Martin Sola and PO1 Rollie Balena were commended by Mantele for the arrest of the suspect.

Meanwhile, Chief inspector Sotero Ramos Jr. of the Northern Police District Office (NPDO) intelligence unit reported the arrest of Joel John Danao alias "SPO1 Joel Danao," 32, married, residing at Block 23, Lot 56, Kaunlaran Village, Navotas. Danao had a pending warrant of arrest issued by Malabon RTC Judge Benjamin Aquino (Branch 73) that was served Sunday night by district operatives.

Danao, who had a string of robbery cases to his name, was arrested after a brief chase at around 6:45 p.m. at Block 23, Lot 53, Area 1, Phase 2.

Danao, who has a string of robbery cases to his name, was arrested after a brief chase at around 6:45 p.m. at Block 23, Lot 33, Area 1 in Navotas. Danao was then enjoying a drinking spree with five suspects when the policemen pounced on him.

Arrested with Danao were suspected robbery cohorts Cesar Saballa, Michael Cruzat, Francisco Fernando Jr. James Molina and Garjun Nobis.

Confiscated from the suspects were a PNP badge (018577); a PNP ID, a caliber .38 revolver with a defaced serial number loaded with six live bullets, assorted PNP-CIDG identification cards and PNP documents.

"A memo was furnished to the intelligence office by the chief of the Records and Management Division at PNP headquarters saying among others that the name SPO1 Joel Danao is neither carried in the PNP Personnel Accounting and Information System roster nor in the Alpha (salary) List as of May 7, 2002," Ramos said.

The officer also added that a record check conducted by his office yielded positive results on Danao’s involvement in a robbery case with a warrant for his arrest issued by Judge Aquino on June 21, 2000.

The suspects have been detained pending the filing of appropriate charges. – With Pete Laude