Leader of illegal power connection gang wanted for murder falls; gun seized

MANILA, Philippines - After more than a week of manhunt operation, police finally nabbed the alleged leader of illegal power connection syndicate who is wanted for the slay of a police informant on March 23 at the Parola Compound in Binondo, Manila.

Edgar Rioferio, 36, alias “Tambobo,” and his cohort Jimmy Blanco, 41, were reportedly leading their men in the installation of illegal electrical connection inside the Parola Compound last night when police arrived at the place, Meisic police station chief Superintendent Nelson Yabut said during the presentation of the suspects to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim yesterday morning at the Manila City Hall.

Seized from Rioferio were a .9mm caliber pistol and some 150 grams of suspected shabu sealed in plastic bags.  

Yabut has issued a shoot-to-kill order against Rioferio and his men following the murder of a Parola resident who was suspected by the group as being an informer of their illegal activities

A witness has identified Rioferio and his henchmen Dundie Corpin, alias Baldo, and one alias “Jonjon” as the suspects in the shooting of Ricky Moreno at the Parola Compound on March 23. Moreno succumbed to gunshot wounds three days later.

The suspects are the alleged leaders of the syndicate that supplies illegal power connection to Parola residents for a fee. The syndicate reportedly nets hundreds of thousand pesos every month for their illegal activity.   

Corpin, who was earlier identified by barangay officials as King Iver Gaten, is reportedly being used by Rioferio as his front man after he got out of prison. He was arrested by Yabut and his men in 2008 for murder and for allegedly supplying the illegal power connection in Parola. Despite the gravity of the charges against him, Rioferio managed to post bail and continue with his illegal activity, according to Yabut.

Lim directed Yabut and the homicide section of the Manila Police District to make an airtight case against Rioferio to prevent him from getting out of jail.