Drug group leader nabbed by police

THE alleged leader of a gun-for-hire and illegal drug trafficking group was arrested hours after he escaped the shootout in a raid done at his home in barangay Pulpogan, Consolacion town at 11:30 p.m. last Thursday.

Francisco Villanueva Ariva was arrested by personnel of the Cebu Provincial Police Office – Provincial Intelligence Branch (CPPO-PIB) and the Special Reaction Unit (CPPO-SRU).

Supt. Rodolfo Albotra, head of CPPO-PIB, said Ariva was arrested several blocks away from his home in barangay Pulpogan after they were tipped off by an informant on his whereabouts.

“He didn’t leave the area after the raid,”Albotra said in an interview.

Recovered from Avira were three high-powered firearms and a bulletproof vest. Ariva didn’t resist arrest nor deny his involvement in drug trafficking.

“He even blamed his cohorts for fighting the police,” Albotra told Cebu Daily News.

Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Cebu provincial police chief, Ariva’s group is being monitored by the police for engaging in criminal activities in Cebu.

Police also raided the homes of Jerry Bugtai, Elvira Manlise and Vicente Judaya. Judaya was killed in a shootout with police at his home also in barangay Pulpogan.

Bugtai and Manlise were arrested and denied involvement in drug trafficking. Charges will be filed against them.

Residents voiced relief over the arrest of Ariva and the others.

“Usahay kalit lang magbuto-buto, mao na nga di mi katug (They would fire guns without warning which caused us sleepless nights),” said one neighbor of Ariva who requested anonymity.

Albotra said they will will also conduct deeper investigation if Ariba’s group is also involved on string of shooting incident in Consolacion town and neighboring towns. Correspondents Joy Cherry Quito and Chito Aragon