Bicol most wanted man, cohort die in clash with cops in Parañaque

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. holds a press conference at Camp Crame, Quezon City on January 15, 2024. INQUIRER.net file photo / Faith Argosino

MANILA, Philippines — The Bicol Region’s most wanted person and his unidentified accomplice were killed in a shootout with lawmen, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Thursday.

In a press conference, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. revealed that suspect Gilbert Concepcion was a leader of the Concepcion Criminal Gang involved in gun-for-hire and robbery-extortion rackets in Albay, Camarines Sur. Concepcion was also wanted for kidnapping, murder, rape, and direct assault charges.

“As a background, at around 6:00 p.m. of January 24, 2024, a joint intelligence-driven operation involving personnel of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Police Regional Office 5, triggered a fierce gunfight with Concepcion together with his armed companion,” Acorda said.

He added that policemen were supposed to serve a warrant of arrest against Concepcion, which led to an exchange of gunfire with authorities along Sitio De Asis, Barangay San Martin De Porres.

“Both armed suspects succumbed to gunshot wounds as a result of the encounter. The following weapons and ammunition recovered describe the dangerous character of these suspects and the peril they pose to the community,” Acorda furthered.

Confiscated from them were two 9-mm caliber pistols loaded with live ammunition, five magazines with live ammunition each, a plastic containing 25 pieces of ammunition, two sling bags, and an identification card under the name of Laeco Josie Saysay Quite.

Background on Concepcion

Citing police records, the PNP top official also revealed that Concepcion was among the list of most wanted persons in the list of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, with a P420,000 reward offered for his arrest.

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Prior to committing his crimes, the suspect was a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front – Special Partisan Unit under Sevilla Group or Pulong.

Concepcion was recruited by the Philippine Army as its action agent and enlisted in 2001.

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“Sometime in 2007 or 2008, he went on absence without official leave after a warrant of arrest was issued against him for the killing of Sasota Brothers in 2006 at Sitio Pinagbadilan, Buga, Libon, Albay due to land dispute. He also killed the complainant, the Sasotas’ mother in Polangui, Albay,” PNP’s record said.

Among other crimes, Concepcion and other members of his group were the primary suspects in the death of Barangay Captain Alex Rodriguez Repato, who was shot dead in front of his residence in Libon after filing his candidacy on August 28 last year, prompting the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to place the area under Comelec control during the 2023 polls.