Barba: Guns-for-hire operating in Pangasinan
LINGAYEN–Guns-for-hire are thriving.
At least five groups having some 50 members are known to be operating in the provinces of Pangasinan, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija, according to the police provincial director.
Senior Superintendent Percival Barba, in his first report to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) since assuming office five months ago, said this is a serious problem for the province and the police needs the help of the community to resolve it.
“Anybody could be their next victim, thus the need to engage community support,” Barba said even as he stressed that his presentation of the situation is not meant to cause undue alarm among Pangasinenses.
Barba noted that guns-for-hire assassins can be hired for as low as P25,000.
The provincial police, Barba said, have initiated talks with the police of the two other provinces for coordinated efforts in arresting the gun-for-hire groups, and have also intensified the campaign against loose firearms.
He also called on the people to be vigilant by reporting to the police unmarked vehicles or with altered plate numbers that frequent their area.
“We have social responsibility. Let’s involve the people in fighting crimes,” he added.
“We have a reason to be angry because it’s as if life is so cheap and affordable for persons who want their enemies eliminated,” he said referring to the reported P25,000 assassin’s fee.
Barba, however, maintained the crime situation in Pangasinan is generally stable and manageable.
Considered most peaceful towns in Pangasinan for having the least number of crime incidents were Anda in the first district, Basista in the second district, Mapandan in the third district, San Fabian in the fourth district, Sto. Tomas in the fifth district and San Nicolas in the sixth district.
A physical injury was highest among the incidents last year with 278 cases, which is lower by 53 in prior year’s data. This was followed by theft at 153 and murder at 132.
Crime solution efficiency was at 91 percent, Barba added.#
Malasiqui’s most
wanted arrested
LINGAYEN-The most wanted person in Malasiqui town, a suspected member of a gun-for-hire group, was arrested by joint police operatives on Wednesday last week.
The suspect was identified as Ferdinand Garcia, 42 alias Petdin, a resident of barangay Lokeb Este.
Police Supt. Wilson Joseph Lopez, group director of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Pangasinan police, said Garcia was caught by a joint team from his group and the Malasiqui police in his hideout in barangay Asin following surveillance operations.
Lopez said Garcia was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Anthony Sison of Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 57 in San Carlos City.
Garcia, facing a murder case with the use of unlicensed firearm and with no bail bond recommended, tried to escape during the arrest but failed.
Before his arrest, Garcia was reportedly in hiding in several places in the Ilocos region, including La Union, and other parts of Pangasinan.—CSR
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