TWO suspected members of a robbery gang were arrested by joint police operatives before dawn Tuesday at a police checkpoint along Perez Boulevard in Dagupan City.

Arrested were Fidel de Gracias, 19, of Perez Market site and Norbeto Tamayo, 22, of Parongking, Calasiao.

The two, who were presented to the media by Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil, Ilocos Region police director, Tuesday afternoon, will also be facing charges for violation of the Commission on Election (Comelec) gun ban.

Bataoil commended the Dagupan and Calasiao police stations for the arrests and said this was part of the continuing security operations in the intensified campaign against criminal elements.

Bataoil said the Dagupan and Calasiao police are now checking records on the involvement of the two in previous robbery cases in Calasiao as he appealed to residents to report to the authorities any suspicious-looking persons within their vicinity.

Confiscated from the two suspects were two home-made cal.38 revolver, four heat-sealed small plastic sachet containing suspected shabu, a back pack containing a jacket, two t-shirts, a bonnet, long sleeve colored black with markings “POLICE”, “RMG” and “Law Enforcers”.

P/Supt. Dionicio Borromeo, Dagupan police chief, said the arrest of the suspects was effected after receiving tips from concerned citizens.

Borromeo said that when the two were arrested, they conducted a record-check with the Calasiao PNP and the two were found to be involved in a series of robbery-hold up and snatching cases, among others.

Supt. John Colinio, chief of police of Calasiao, confirmed that cases had been filed against the two.

The alleged leader of the gang, identified only as a certain “Banjo”, was able to elude arrest and is now the object of follow-up operations.

“Matagal na itong grupong ito, nagsimula sa pa-snatch-snatch ng cellphone hanggang sa lumaki (This group has been operating for a long time now, it started out small with just the snatching of cellphones, but its operations has now grown bigger),” Borromeo added.

The suspects are now facing cases for illegal possession of firearms, violation of gun ban and R.A. 9165 (Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002). —CSR

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