Biliran's 8th most wanted man falls

CEBU, Philippines - The 8th most wanted man in the municipality of Biliran was finally apprehended by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Central Visayas at around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. 

Aljay Ray Bontes, 30, currently residing at Blue Garden, Barangay Lahug Cebu City was apprehended through an arrest warrant for drugs issued by Naval, Biliran Regional Trial Court Judge Bienvinido Montilla on May 20, 2009. 

Bontes reportedly escaped police custody in 2009 after he jumped from a police patrol car while being transferred to Biliran for violating Section 5 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Bontes’ arrest came after the police received intelligence reports of his presence in Cebu City through the help of CIDG-7’s Community Investigative Support (CIS).

After verifying his whereabouts, Insp. Delfin Bontuyan together with other elements of CIDG-7, went to a carwash reportedly owned by the suspect along Salinas Drive, Barangay Lahug and arrested the suspect.

“Pag-abot namo sa car wash giduol dayon ko ni Bontes ug nangutana kun magpalimpyo ba kuno ko og sakya-nan,” Bontuyan said.

Bontuyan immediately served the warrant of arrest while his men surrounded the suspect. The suspect, however, did not resist arrest.

Bontes denied the allegations against him and said that he was shocked when he was suddenly arrested for drugs. 

CIDG-7 Director Jose Pante said they are currently coordinating with their counterparts in Region 8 so that Bontes could be fetched and brought back to Biliran. Bontes’ case is a non-bailable offense.

The successful arrest of Bontes is a result of the recent creation of the CIDG-7 CIS volunteers which according to Pante, is their eyes and ears on the field.

“Through our CIS, ang community na ang nagbibigay ng information sa amin,” he said.

The director said that the added support have further enhanced their capabilities in tracking down criminals through reliable and fast intelligence network provided by their CIS.

CIDG-7 currently has 40 CIS volunteers throughout the region. — (FREEMAN)