Tarlac’s biggest illegal drug gang busted

CAMP AMAKABULOS, Tarlac — The leader of Tarlac’s biggest drug syndicate and four of its members were arrested on Wednesday by combined police elements from a special anti-illegal drugs tracking team and the intelligence division of the provincial police headquarters here.

Senior Superintendent Angelo Sunglao, provincial police director, identified the suspected drug dealers as Hernan Gomez, 43, the alleged leader of the group; Cristina de Jesus, 22, allegedly an illegitimate daughter of a former provincial board member; her uncle, Fernando Halili, 42; Gomez’ younger brother, Jerry, 37; and, John Dizon, a nephew of the suspected gang leader — all residents of Tarlac City.

The suspects were arrested in separate raids in Barangay Matatalaib and at the posh San Sebastian Village, both in Tarlac City.

Confiscated from the suspects were some 17 grams of shabu, with an estimated market value of P34,000; 26 grams of dried marijuana leaves; calibers .45, caliber .25 and caliber .22 pistols; assorted magazines and bullets; two two-way radios; a teargas canister; a binocular; and a telescope.

Also taken from the suspects were cash money amounting to P20,054.25, a Nissan Terrano and a Toyota Lite Ace van.

Police provincial intelligence chief, Superintendent Amador Corpus disclosed that they are now also perusing through three blue-covered notebooks that were also taken from Gomez’ raided home, which contained the initials of suspected drug pushers and their corresponding transactions for prohibited substances with the syndicate.

Corpus said that the blue notebooks showed that Gomez employed a "networking" scheme in his operations similar to the organizational structure of a "pyramid" business, and distribute illegal drugs to pushers on "a consignment basis."

He added that the illegal drug syndicate has been raking in P300,000 to P500,000 a day from the illicit business.

Sunglao said the intelligence community believes that Gomez and his gang operates in Tarlac City, and the towns of Capas, Concepcion and Gerona, which all happen to be the province’s most populated areas.

He disclosed that Oplan: Hergom has been in operation for about a month now and they expect more arrests to take place following tactical interrogations of the detained suspects.

Gov. Jose Yap told Sunglao and government prosecutors "to ensure an airtight case against these menaces of our society."