Police arrest leader of gang in shootout

CEBU, Philippines - Police arrested the alleged leader of the group involved in the shootout with the police last Thursday in Barangay Pulpogan, Consolacion town where four alleged gang members were killed.

Francisco “Boyet” Ariva, who hid in his friend’s house following the shootout, peacefully yielded to the  operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch at around 11 p.m. Thursday.

Supt. Rodolfo Albotra, chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, said Avira did not resist when arrested, apparently scared to suffer the same fate of his alleged members.

Ariva also surrendered his three high-powered guns.

Albotra said Ariva, leader of the Boyet Ariva Group, confessed during tactical interrogation that he has long been involved in illegal drug trade and gun-for-hire activities and that he has killed at least seven people.

Ariva also confessed that his cohort, Heronjo Lantaksi, was the first to fire at the police during the operation last Thursday.

Police tried but failed to arrest Lantaksi.  They will be filing charges for possession of illegal drugs and illegalpossession of firearms against Ariva and Lantaksi, together with Jerry Bugtai and Elvira Manlasi, who were arrested Thursday dawn.

Armed with search warrants, different special units simultaneously raided four houses in Barangay Pulpogan Thursday dawn.

Ariva’s members were killed when they tried to resist arrest and fired at the raiding team.

They were identified as Rene Boy Tarriao, Ian Siacol, Vicente Judaya, and Jerson Resme.

Police seized six high-powered firearms, three hand grenades, assorted ammunition, assorted empty shells and several packs of suspected shabu that amounted to P300,000.

The suspects are allegedly involved in separate shooting incidents and illegal drug trade in the northern area of Cebu.

Meanwhile, Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Commission will  give commendations and incentives to the police operatives who conducted raid.

The commission’s executive director, lawyer Magnificus Cañete, yesterday said that they wanted to raise the P3,000 cash incentive earlier offered by acting Governor Agnes Magpale to the entire raiding team.

Cañete said that they will also give individual commendation to each of the operatives.

He said that out of the P5 million annual appropriation for CPADAC, P152,000 is allocated for rewards and incentives while another P1.5 million is for the operation of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB).

Cañete said that Magpale is willing to give more funds from the intelligence fund of her office.

He said that the CPADAC will help in the filing of cases to the prosecutor’s office. — with Gregg M. Rubio/MBG (FREEMAN)