8 criminal syndicates busted in La Union

CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union — Seven robbery gangs and a carnapping syndicate, mostly operating in the Ilocos region, were neutralized in two months of intense operations conducted by the La Union police provincial office.

According to reports, Senior Superintendent Samuel Diciano, La Union police director, will reveal the names of the gang members during a command conference of police directors today in Camp Oscar Florendo.

A copy of the report obtained by The STAR shows that there are eight criminal gangs apprehended during the various police operations from Aug. 1 to Sept. 15.

The criminal groups were identified as the Salisi, Runas, Philpot, Catbagan, Alviento, Flores, Navalta and Fajardo. Their leaders were identified as Patricio Sta. Maria, Dennis Runas, William Philpot, Nicky Catbagan, Gina Alviento, Joel Flores, Leandro Navalta and Darwin Fajardo.

Police reports also showed that aside from the Philpot group believed involved in car theft, all the seven gangs were into illegal activities like robbery, theft, and cellphone snatching.

The Salisi, Runas, Philpot, Catbagan and Alviento groups were cornered in separate police operations last August while the Flores, Navalta and Fajardo groups were apprehended during the first two weeks of September.

Police arrested three members each from the Runas, Philpot, Flores and Fajardo groups, four from Catbagan and one each from the Salisi, Alviento and Navalata groups.

"This is the result of our intensified operations against criminal gangs operating in La Union and in the other provinces of Region 1. Director Diciano strengthened the operations in the municipalities after we gathered intelligence reports regarding the proliferation of robbery syndicates in the province," a policeman told The STAR.

Diciano will be reporting the apprehension of the syndicates before the conference which will be presided by Chief Superintendent Alfredo de Vera, Ilocos region police director. He will also report the arrest of the seven most wanted persons in the province.