Thanks to SMS, gun-for-hire group busted
LINGAYEN—Three members of a suspected gun-for-hire group were arrested on the night of Mar. 6 in Barangay Papagueyan, Binmaley where they entered a house and threatened to kill its occupants.
The arrest was made following a report to the police through a text message alert sent by a member of the Apostol family whose house the group intruded.
Jambe Apostol, 28, said the suspects entered their house, held them hostage with a threat that they will be killed after announcing they are members of a gun-for-hire group.
The police immediately responded to the SMS message and succeeded in making the group surrender.
Apprehended were Joseph Austria, 35, of San Juan, San Carlos City; Daniel Espinoza, 24, of Pallas, Binmaley; and Zaldy Soriano, 39, of Barangay Papagueyan.
Confiscated from Austria was one black backpack bag containing two bonnets, one black hat, a passport in his name issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs, one packaging tape, one media identification card in his name and one Smith and Wesson 38 revolver with five live ammunition and a holster.
The motive for the entry and attempt at hostaging was not known at presstime.
The three suspects are now in jail for custodial investigation.
The confiscated firearm and the five live ammunition will be brought to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory in Lingayen for ballistic examination to determine if the weapon was used in other reported killings.
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