Newly-formed “armed group” falls in Dalaguete

CEBU, Philippines - Five persons, including two minors, were arrested in a joint operation conducted by Dalaguete and Alcoy police operatives yesterday morning in Sitio Amonsao, Barangay Catulohan, Dalaguete.

The operation led to the arrest of Buenaventura “Boy” Maglinte, 35, who is wanted for murder; Reynaldo Ensila Carubio, 18; John Bert Nieves Odias, 20; and two minors, who are believed to be members of a newly-formed criminal group operating in the mountain barangays of Nug-as, Alcoy and Catulohan, Dalaguete.

The joint operation was led by Senior Inspector Joseph Berondo, Dalaguete Police Station chief and Senior Inspector Jomar Medel, Alcoy Police Station chief.

PO3 Jehaziel Huyo-a, desk officer of Dalaguete Police Station, said the combined forces of Dalaguete and Alcoy police stations took off from Dalaguete Police Station at 2 a.m. yesterday.

It took them almost three hours to reach the area and to execute the operation.

The operatives slowly approached the hideout of Maglinte and saw him inside with the four others allegedly packing shabu, which prompted them to barge into the house.

“Wa na kalihok sila sir naabtan na gyud ni sila nga nagbahigay sa drugs mao to gipangdakop na sila,” Huyo-a said.

The police arrested Maglinte who yielded at least 5 grams of suspected shabu worth P59,000.

A .38 caliber revolver with two live ammo was confiscated from Reynaldo Ensila Carubio while a .45 cal. pistol with two live ammo was recovered from Odias.

Two packs of suspected shabu were recovered from one of the minors while the other one was allegedly holding a .38 cal. revolver with three live rounds.

After their arrest, the suspects were brought to the police station and the minors were turned over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office to determine if they acted with discernment.

The MSWDO found out that the minors knew what they were doing. The two have been turned over to the police for the filing of appropriate charges.

Huyo-a said Maglinte was previously arrested by the operatives of Dalaguete Police Station for homicide but was released after he posted bail.

But a warrant of arrest was then issued against him for murder.

Maglinte allegedly fled Cebu to evade arrest but returned to Dalaguete recently and formed an armed group that involves in illegal drugs, said Huyo-a.  (FREEMAN)