Espina orders cops: Arrest more wrongdoers

MANILA, Philippines - Police officers manning the streets of Metro Manila should arrest more wrongdoers and have them “answer for their misdeeds before our courts,” National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said yesterday.

“Our pro-active and preventive police operations will continue to deliver results with the cooperation of the communities,” Espina said.

He expressed hope that the accomplishments of the NCRPO would greatly diminish the capabilities of criminal syndicates in the metropolis, especially during the Christmas season.

Espina announced the arrest of Richard Gonzales, alias Brix Montiverde, an alleged member of a group of robbers linked to heists at the Robinson’s Galleria and Metro East malls.

Gonzales, the sixth most wanted person in Parañaque, was arrested on illegal gun possession charges by a team led by Chief Inspector Ferjen Torred at his safehouse in Barangay Merville.

Another suspect, Carlito Pardilla, was arrested in Barangay San Martin de Porres in Parañaque City after he was accused by trader Inderjeet Singh of robbing him of blankets, towels and pants worth a total of P5,000.

In Makati City, Gerry Tupangil was arrested after he sold a sachet of shabu to an undercover police officer. Police officers also confiscated another sachet of shabu and a .45 caliber pistol with eight bullets.

In Manila, police officers led by Senior Inspector Roland Aznar arrested Ricardo Estanislao for theft and recovered from his possession a machine compressor worth P49,000.

The Mandaluyong City police caught fugitive Franco Marasigan, who is wanted for robbery, in Tanay, Rizal.