LINGAYEN–Combined elements of the provincial and local police arrested a barangay kagawad and two others suspected to be members of a crime group engaged in the manufacture, distribution and sale of improvised explosives, locally known as bongbong, used for illegal fishing in the northwestern part of Pangasinan.

Nabbed Monday by joint elements of the Special Operations Group, led by Supt. Rudolph Dimas, and the San Fabian police, under Supt. Leopoldo Rivera, were Barangay Kagawad Ernesto Gadayos, Herminio Ramirez and Ernesto Dulay, all from Barangay Alacan, San Fabian.

Seized from the house of Gadayos, based on a search warrant, were 6 bottles of improvised explosives, 29 blasting caps, 38 blasting caps with prima cords, 24 prima cords, five plastic bags containing potassium nitrate used in making explosives weighing approximately five kilograms, four sacks of potassium nitrate weighing almost 100 kilograms and one compressor tank and a 10-meter hose.

Confiscated from the house of Ramirez were five plastic bags containing five kilograms of potassium nitrate, eight plastic bags containing four kilograms of potassium nitrate, 12 prima cords and 23 blasting caps.

Also, the police seized two bottles of explosives from the house of Dulay.

Senior Supt. Isagani Nerez, provincial police director, lauded his men for arresting the suspects whom he said was a big boost to their campaign against illegal fishing along the long coastal area of Pangasinan.

Nerez said the group was led and financed by Gadayos, reported to be well known in making bongbong by using potassium nitrate, a non-organic fertilizer used in mango flower inducement.

The improvised explosives are sold and distributed by the suspects to their contacts and customers in fishing areas in the northwestern part of Pangasinan and in the southern part of neighboring La Union province.—EVA

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments