CIDG creates task force to go after gang of thrill killers

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has created Task Force 3K to neutralize a gang of thrill killers believed to be behind 22 homicide and robbery cases in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

CIDG director Chief Superintendent Jesus Versoza vowed to make the neutralization of the gang his "priority project" this year.

Versoza named Senior Superintendent Benjamin de los Santos, head of the CIDG’s Criminal Investigation and Detective Division (CIDD), to head Task Force 3K.

Members of the task force come from CIDG’s National Capital Region, Regions 3 and 4 offices, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Pampanga police office and the crime laboratory.

De los Santos, a lawyer, directed CIDG Region 4 to handle 11 cases in their area of responsibility, and four each to CIDG 3 and the NCRPO. The CIDG NCR, Pampanga police office and the crime laboratory would provide support to various units going after the gangs of killers.

De los Santos has called for a second coordinating conference this week. He earlier ordered participating police units to submit case folders of the gang’s 22 cases.

While Versoza’s office is busy going after coup plotters and destablizers, the task force would relentlessly work on the neutralization of the gang, a police official said.

"Gen. Versoza wants results as soon as possible," the official said. "We are now working round the clock to identify and possibly arrest the suspects."

The suspects were traced through the forensic the investigation capabilities of the PNP crime laboratory, which had cross-matched empty slugs and empty shells recovered at the crime scene of the 22 cases.

Among the sensational cases attributed to the gang was the massacre in Dongalo, Parañaque City, the killing of four people in Barangay del Remidio in San Pablo City and the shooting of three people in Barangay San Francisco in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

Crime lab director Chief Superintendent Ernesto Belen said the gang used two 9mm pistols and three caliber .38 revolvers in its first 11 attacks, which included the killing of PO2 Norman Magno in San Fernando, Pampanga last Dec. 14.

"We attributed an additional eight other cases to the gang after we traced the caliber .45 pistol they grabbed from PO2 Magno in the San Pablo massacre," said Belen, noting that the gang used a 9mm Glock pistol in 18 cases.

Versoza noted that the gang used a white Mazda sedan in a number of operations. – Non Alquitran