Crime ring leader shot dead in Parañaque

MANILA, Philippines — The most wanted fugitive in Bicol, whose crime ring was allegedly responsible for the murder of over 100 people, was killed in what police said was a shootout in Parañaque on Wednesday night.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. yesterday announced the neutralization of Gilbert Concepcion, said to be the leader of a crime group involved in gun-for-hire, kidnapping-for-ransom, robbery, extortion, rape, gunrunning and other nefarious activities.

Concepcion and his cousin, Laeco Josie Saysay, were killed in an encounter with police intelligence operatives at a slum area in Barangay San Martin de Porres at around 6 p.m.

“This successful police operation shows the aggressive output in the anti-crime campaign that the PNP will implement with vigor this year,” Acorda said at a news briefing at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

Acorda said Concepcion, a former member of the Philippine Army, is wanted for a string of crimes in Bicol, including the murders of barangay officials in Libon, Albay.

Concepcion and his cohorts were also allegedly involved in the killing by decapitation of six people whom they suspected of being police informants.

Concepcion went AWOL or absent without leave from the Army after a court issued warrants for his arrest in 2007 and 2008 for the killing of two brothers in Libon due to a land dispute.

He was also tagged in the murder of the siblings’ mother in Polangui, Albay.

“He is rumored to have killed, whether documented or undocumented, more than 100. That’s how notorious he is,” National Capital Region Police Office director Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.

Nartatez said Concepcion and Saysay fought back as police raided their lair.

Police tracked down Concepcion’s whereabouts after receiving intelligence information that he was armed and dangerous.

Seized from the suspects were three firearms.

Authorities believe Concepcion sought refuge in Parañaque because he felt he was no longer safe in Bicol as more people in the region had reported to police his group’s hideouts.