SPD’s third most wanted man falls

The third most wanted man on the Southern Police District’s list was apprehended last Sunday at a checkpoint in Quezon province, police officials said yesterday.

Superintendent Jose Gentiles, SPD-Intelligence Division chief, identified the suspect as former Police Officer 3 Dominador Gonzales, 43, with last known address at Barangay Bulihan, San Antonio, Quezon province. He allegedly became a leader of a robbery gang that preyed on arriving foreigners and has been tagged in the slaying of a law enforcer.

He was arrested at around 4:30 p.m. at a checkpoint in Barangay Niing, San Antonio, Quezon province by elements of the provincial special forces and the San Antonio police. Found in his possession was caliber .38 Armscor revolver with five bullets.

Gentiles said the Quezon police turned over the suspect last Monday evening to the SPD, which is preparing murder and robbery in band charges against him. He is accused of killing SPO3 Jacinto Tanagan, assigned in Parañaque City, on Dec. 27, 2001.

The suspect is allegedly the leader of the Mariposa Gang that preys on foreign tourists arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Their members allegedly include former policemen and ex-members of the Aviation Security Group.

"Members of the Mariposa Gang started moonlighting as security and bodyguards to tourists before they became a criminal group. Their assets at NAIA allegedly provide them with information on tourists," Gentiles said.

He added that the gang usually operates from November to February, victimizing Korean and Japanese nationals. The group would wait for tourists to leave the airport before blocking their vehicles and taking their cash and valuables.

At 3 p.m. of Dec. 27, 2001, the gang allegedly shot dead Tanagan who spotted and tried to stop them from robbing two Japanese tourists outside the NAIA. There is a standing warrant against Gonzales in Parañaque and another murder case in Cavite.

Upon learning of Gonzales’ arrest, Parañaque City Mayor Joey Marquez. ordered his staff to retrieve the files on the slain Tanagan to verify the amount of the reward he had promised for the arrest of his killer.

"Yes I am willing to give the reward, I just cannot recall how much because it has been two years now," he said. "Again, we congratulate the Philippine National Police. We depend on their logistics to solve crimes and we support their operations especially in this case wherein the suspect is a former police officer."