ILOILO CITY—Policemen arrested on Friday night two men who were suspected to be members of a robbery and gun-for-hire group.
The suspects—Nelson Himugaon, 50 and Rudy Eulalio, 26, both of Passi City in Iloilo—were detained at the police station in Molo District pending filing of resisting arrest and illegal possession of firearms.
Eulalio and Himugaon denied they were guns-for-hire, saying they were supposed to meet someone in the area for a drinking session.
The two were arrested after they were seen roaming near the house of Barangay Kagawad Romar Martirez of San Pedro in Molo district this city.
Martirez said he believes he was the target of the suspects because he had been receiving several death threats sent through text messages after filing cases against two personalities.
“I will not comment more on the case. I respect the police actions on this matter. But I believe I am their target,” Martirez said.
Chief Insp. Rio Maymay, Molo police chief, said two policemen in civilian clothes accosted the suspects but Eulalio attempted to draw his gun from his bag. The policemen and the suspects scuffled until Himugaon and Eulalia were subdued and brought to police station for investigation.
Found from the suspects were .45 caliber pistol with two magazines, a bonnet and a cellular phone that contained a text message supposedly sent by someone whom they asked for direction.
“We are checking on their background but according to our sources Eulalio and Himugaon were members of Jimmy Padernal group. But this group has been disbanded already,” Maymay disclosed.
Jimmy Padernal group was a crime group engaged in robbery-holdup and gun-for-hire operating in the 4th district and parts of 3rd and 5th districts in Iloilo province.