50 talisman-wearing guns-for-hire at large

ANGELES CITY — Fifty members of a gun-for-hire group called the Rebolusyonaryong Samahan ng Anak Pawis (RSAP), all believed to be wearing talismans to protect themselves from harm, are at large in Pampanga and Bulacan.

The RSAP members have been intimidating the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the Angeles City police following the arrest of their two leaders last Friday.

"In Angeles alone, the group has killed at least eight people since I assumed my post in November 2002," Senior Superintendent Jimmy Restua, city police chief, told The STAR.

Restua said the RSAP members have become "plain bandits without any ideology" after breaking away from the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan.

"They shoot people for no apparent reason. They just do so as ordered by (their leaders)," he said.

Last Friday, police captured suspected RSAP leaders Ramon Panis and Freddie Dungo and one of their henchmen, Carlos Narciso, after a brief firefight at the Jaoville compound in Barangay Pandan here.

Three other RSAP members were able to escape. Seized from their lair were three firearms, including a baby Armalite, a grenade, assorted bullets, suspected marijuana fruiting tops and an apparent extortion letter still to be sent to a local businessman.

Restua said Panis is believed responsible for the killing of city deputy election officer Ponciano Palo before the May 2004 elections. Palo was shot at close range in front of his house at L&S Subdivision here.

Panis was also implicated in the gunslaying of former jueteng operator Junior Marin while the latter was recuperating from a gunshot wound at St. Catherine’s Hospital in Barangay Cutcut here over a year ago.

Restua said Panis and Dungo are believed to be the third- and fourth-ranking "supremo," respectively, of the RSAP. Panis identified their leader as one Alejandrino.