Crime gang member resists arrest in Antipolo, is killed by cops serving warrant

MANILA, Philippines — An alleged member of a criminal gang was killed when he resisted arrest while the police were serving a warrant of arrest for murder on him in Antipolo City, Rizal.

Nanestro Balderas alias Payang allegedly fired at police operatives as they were serving the warrant at Sitio Singalong in Barangay San Jose at about 6:20 p.m. Tuesday. He succumbed to gunshots when police retaliated.

Lt. Col. Villaflor Bannawagan, acting chief of the Luzon Field Unit (LFU) of the Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG), said in his report released to the media on Wednesday that Balderas was part of the notorious Lawin Group engaged in robbery, gun-for-hire, kidnapping, and illegal drugs.

Three other suspects — Juanito Aringoy alias Lawin, who is the alleged leader of the group; his son John Axel; and Sarah Jean Pimentel — were also arrested in a follow-up operation, according to Maj. Ronaldo Lumactod, PNP-AKG spokesperson.

Bannawagan said the arrest warrant stemmed from the murder of a certain Efren Orea on Sept. 2, 2019. The suspects were also allegedly involved in the killing of a certain Koby Dimaano sometime in 2018.

“They are also linked with the notorious Sacdalan Group which operated in the municipality of Teresa, Barras and the city of Antipolo, Rizal,” said the police official.

Found at the scene of the encounter were three spent shells, an improvised gun or sumpak, a .38-caliber revolver, a .45-caliber pistol, and drug paraphernalia.

In an interview with reporters at the AKG office in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Aringoy admitted to killing Orea, who he said, is his long-time enemy due to drugs. He denied, however, all other crimes he was accused of by the police.

He also said that his 20-year-old son and the woman arrested with him were only dragged in the case and are not involved in any criminal activity.

In the defense of the police, Bannawagan said the suspects were identified by a witness in the crime, an argument that Aringoy rejected.

“Yung nagtuturo sa amin, kaibigan ng kasama kong pumatay ‘yun. Dinedepensahan nila ‘yun, kung sinu-sino tinuro at tsaka hindi matino, wala sa pag-iisip na tama ‘yun,” he said.

(The one pointing at us the friend of another person who was with me in killing the victim. They were defending that person, pointing at just anyone. He is also not in his right mind.)