Laguna crime leader, 2 others resist arrest, killed in ‘De Oro

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—-Laguna-based crime gang leader Marvin Fajardo and two others were killed after they traded shots with a police assault team inside a posh subdivision here Thursday evening, Oct. 3.

City police spokesperson Major Evan Viñas said Fajardo and two of his men were pronounced dead upon arrival at the J.R. Borja Memorial City Hospital where they were brought for treatment.

According to Viñas, several sports utility vehicles and firearms were seized by the police raiders at the house where Fajardo and his men were staying in a subdivision in Barangay Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro.

“We are still sifting through the evidence to see how come they came to Cagayan de Oro to hide. Fajardo was a high-value target who came here to hide,” Viñas said.

Viñas said Fajardo leads a notorious crime gang based in Laguna which is engaged in extortion, kidnapping, and robbery, and operates also in Batangas and the National Capital Region.

In 2010, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operatives arrested Fajardo in Malvar town, Batangas for drug trafficking.

However, the case did not prosper and Fajardo was set free.

Viñas said Fajardo arrived in Cagayan de Oro sometime in June this year and rented the townhouse at the upscale subdivision.

“Sometime in July, we received information that Fajardo was hiding here,” Viñas said.

On Thursday evening, at around 6:45 p.m., a joint team of local policemen, Special Action Force troops, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group operatives from Laguna served an arrest warrant on Fajardo for direct assault which was issued by the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Tanauan City in Batangas on Dec. 1, 2013.

Viñas said gunfire greeted the assault team as they broke into the house, prompting the policemen to engage in a gunfight./ac