Crime gang boss, cohorts fall in Pasig City

MANILA, Philippines — The leader of a crime gang and his two cohorts were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Pasig City early Saturday morning.

Eastern Police District (EPD) said Bandal Criminal Gang leader John Ryan Suarez, 34, and members Amado Gaspar, 39, and Kim Marollano, 30), were arrested along Mulawin St. cor. Greenwoods Avenue in Barangay Pinagbuhatan.

Members of Eastern District Field Unit (EDFU) of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Pasig City Police’s Station Drug Enforcement Unit carried out the arrest.

Police seized from Suarez nine sachets of shabu, a .38 caliber Colt revolver with six live bullets, a .22 caliber with three live bullets, six .45 caliber bullets, and two P1,000-bills used as marked money.

Gaspar, on the other hand, yielded a Llama .380 caliber handgun with seven live bullets, while authorities found three other sachets of shabu inside the suspects’ vehicle, a Mitsubishi Montero with plate number ABJ-6697.

Charges for illegal possession of firearms under of R.A. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and for violation of R.A. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against the three suspects, who are under the custody of the Pasig City police.

Authorities said Bandal Gang has been operating in Pasig and in nearby Rizal and Bulacan provinces.

The group is notorious for gun-running, gun for hire, robbery hold-up, and illegal drug activities, according to police. /kga