Anti-crime group to help arrest fugitives

The newly created Community Investigative Support (CIS) of the police force will help hunt down the country’s most wanted fugitives.

In yesterday’s CIS summit at the Cebu International Convention Center, Director Samuel Pagdilao, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said the CIS’ primary target is to help arrest Ruben Ecleo Jr., Retired Major Jovito Palparan, Delfin Lee, former Palawan Gov. Mario Joel Reyes and his brother, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes Jr.

Palparan, who has a P2 million bounty on his head, is facing charges of kidnapping for the disappearance of students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno in 2006.

The government has offered P2 million for the capture Reyes and another P2 million for his brother, who is mayor of Coron, Palawan.  They are tagged as the brains behind the killing of Palawan broadcaster and environmentalist Gerry Ortega.

A reward of P2 million each was set for Lee and Ecleo.

Lee is charged with syndicated estafa, while Ecleo is wanted for his wife Alona in Cebu City in 2002.

Pagdilao said the CIS will be a big help in arresting these high-profile fugitives.

“I can assure that information given by CIS is accurate and will lead to the arrest of wanted persons,” said Pagdilao.

CIS has at least 20,000 civilian anti-crime volunteers  in the country and is  under the direct supervision of CIDG.

Hundreds of  CIS members  attended the summit participated by Cebu Gov.  Gwen Garcia, Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno.

Governor  Garcia said CIS members should be strictly monitored to maintain their credibility in helping police operations.

Pagdilao said CIS members are volunteers and not paid a single centavo.

CIS members are  asked to submit barangay, police, and NBI clearances to see to it that they have no prior criminal records.

Pagdilao said strict monitoring of CIS members in every region will be made.

Glenn Lim, president of the CIS-Central Visayas chapter, said the new organization will allow  civilian volunteers to be actively involved in police operations./CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON