PNP rounds up members of private armed group ahead of 2019 polls

A massive manhunt has been launched for the leader of a kidnapping and gun-for-hire group operating in Metro Manila and in Central and northern Luzon.

Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde on Monday said police were stepping up operations to capture Ricardo Peralta, also known by his aliases Armando Giron, Gregorio Guevarra, Kuya Delfin or Kuya Goryo, who offers his services to politicians, especially during elections.

Albayalde declined to name the suspected politicians who have hired the Peralta group.

In a string of raids on the group’s safe houses in Central and northern Luzon since October, the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) arrested Dennis Matias, Mary Ann Mallari, Raymond Dequina, John Laña and Jackie Lou Isidro — all suspected members of Peralta’s group, and confiscated vehicles and high-powered firearms from them.

‘Top hit man’

Police operatives earlier arrested Armando dela Cruz in Benguet and Peralta’s “top hit man,” David Isidro, in Iloilo, said PNP-AKG Director Glenn Dumlao.

Peralta, along with former Gapan Mayor Ernesto Natividad, was accused of involvement in the 2006 murder of five people at a cockpit in Nueva Ecija. —Jaymee T. Gamil