Gang head nabbed as 3 cops wounded

TAGUM CITY—At least three policemen were wounded during an operation that led to the arrest of one of the most wanted criminals in the Caraga region on  Friday.

While police were able to capture Ondo Perez, the operation to arrest him did not come easy, according to Senior Supt. Glenn dela Torre, chief of the Agusan del Sur police.

Dela Torre said as arresting officers were closing in on Perez in Barangay Dos here, the gang leader lobbed a grenade.

The explosion wounded three officers, all with the rank PO1. They were identified as Jezrel Paje, Raymundo Villar and James Pontillo.

Perez, a former militiaman, shot to notoriety in 2009 when he led his armed followers in taking over an elementary school in a village in Prosperidad town, also in Agusan del Sur. His group seized 75 teachers and pupils and kept them captive for several days.

Perez was later arrested and jailed for another crime in Surigao del Sur but was able to escape in 2010.

Last month, his group pulled off another caper by abducting two Chinese nationals and a Filipino in Barobo, Surigao del Sur. The victims, who were involved in mining, had been rescued.

Dela Torre said Perez’s group was also behind the string of robberies along the Agusan-Butuan Highway, which targeted bus passengers.

Shortly before he was arrested, Perez and his gang robbed a bakeshop in San Francisco town, also in Agusan del Sur.

Dela Torre said aside from Perez, six gang members were also arrested in a follow-up operation on Friday.

“I can say we have already neutralized this gang,” Dela Torre said. Frinston Lim, Inquirer Mindanao