MANILA, Philippines—Seven suspected members of a gang involved in illegal drugs, robbery and other crimes were arrested at a slum area in Quezon City on Thursday morning.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, with assistance from the Kamuning police station and the Regional Public Safety Battalion, implemented five search warrants that led to the apprehension of seven men believed to be part of the Bituin criminal group.
However, the alleged leader, a certain Abdu Bayan Abdullah, was not around when the search warrant in his name was served.
Supt. Danilo Macerin of the CIDG Anti-Organized Crime Unit, identified the arrested men as Dick Cheney Salunoy, Anjo Rosales, Ibrahim Salindal, Efren Valerio, Pepe Rafael, Chrismar Calma and Onte Radzak.
Salunoy and Salindal, along with Abdullah, were subjects of the search warrants served by 80 policemen at a slum area along BIR Road in Barangay Central, Quezon City.
Macerin said the subjects of the search warrants were suspected to be involved in gun-for-hire, robbery, car theft and illegal drug trade.
“It is the first time for these seven men to be arrested. We are still checking if there are outstanding arrest warrants or cases filed against them,” the police official said.
The Bituin group has been carrying out its illegal activities all over Metro Manila, he added.
The CIDG carried out the operation at around 5:30 a.m. Thursday to serve the search warrants issued by Executive Judge Fernando Sagun of Quezon City.
One of the suspects, Salindal, allegedly initially tried to resist arrest but failed.
Police seized four .45-cal. pistols, two .38-cal. revolvers, a .22-cal. revolver, a hand grenade, six .45-cal. magazines and assorted ammunition.
Macerin added that they also recovered several packs of “shabu” and a marijuana plant.
It may be recalled that in October 2014, the CIDG and other police units implemented 10 search warrants in Caloocan City, leading to the arrest of three suspected members of the Bituin group and the recovery of several guns, stolen motorcycles, shabu and P1.3 million in cash.
Salunoy and Salindal will be charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition under Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition, possession of dangerous drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and illegal possession of explosives.