Plotter of radioman’s slay falls

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna — A leader of an organized crime group, who masterminded the May 17, 2003 gunslaying of broadcaster Apolinario "Polly" Pobeda, was arrested in Batangas last April 23, police said.

Chief Superintendent Jesus Versoza, police director of the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), said the suspect, Joven Geron, was nabbed inside a cockpit in San Jose town by combined elements of the regional police intelligence and investigation office, Task Force Meteor and the provincial police.

Geron, who carried a P300,000 bounty, headed the Geron gang and also belonged to the Duenas group operating in Quezon, Batangas and Laguna.

In a press briefing, Versoza said Geron’s group plotted the killing of Pobeda who was gunned down while he was en route to radio station dwTI-AM in Lucena City.

After Geron was arrested, one of his followers, Noel Gonzalbo gave himself up to police authorities.

On June 13 last year, police arrested Leonides Alcantara, another henchman of Geron, who allegedly shot Pobeda as he lay bleeding to make sure that he was dead.

Police tagged Geron’s group to at least 19 criminal cases in the Calabarzon during a two-year period, including the robbery of the P835,000 payroll of the Lutucan National High School in Sariaya, Quezon in June last year.

During interrogation, police said Geron admitted having a hand in the killing of a balikbayan in Sariaya town, the robbery of a Shell gasoline station, and the murder of barangay councilman Ernie Paderon on Feb. 13 last year.

Police said Geron’s group was behind highway robberies along the Maharlika Highway in the Quezon towns of Tiaong, Sariaya, Candelaria and Pagbilao and Lucena City.

Geron, who had eluded arrest several times, claimed to have enjoyed the protection of a Quezon politician and police officers. Versoza refused to identify them.