Cops kill crime boss, arrest 14

Parañaque police neutralized one of the biggest, most notorious criminal groups operating in the city and neighboring localities with the killing of its leader and arrest of 14 members following a 90-minute shootout in Barangay Sun Valley last Friday evening.

City police chief Superintendent Ronald Estilles identified the fatality as Benjamin "Hamin" Ada, 41, leader of the Hamin group tagged in numerous robbery, kidnapping and illegal drug cases.

Fourteen of his followers were later arrested in the buy-bust operation that turned into a shootout at the gang’s lair on Sta. Ana Drive in Sun Valley.

As Ada’s body was retrieved from the four-story building at 8 p.m., residents clapped their hands in unison to show their gratitude to lawmen for ending years of living in fear in a community with suspected criminals as neighbors.

Estilles said police conducted month-long surveillance operations before getting the go-signal to proceed with the buy-bust the other night.

A police asset, who posed as a drug buyer, met with Ada in front of the building on Sta. Ana Drive.

As cash and some 20 grams of shabu exchanged hands, officers in full battle gear moved in.

Ada, however, managed to pull out his caliber .45 pistol and opened fire at the approaching lawmen.

He then ran to their hideout as his cohorts started firing at the officers, leading to an exchange of gunfire.

"It was raining really hard so our targets were not that visible from where we were situated. Also, the street was very narrow so we really had to be careful. It was tough, but our men did very well," Estilles said.

A Special Weapons and Tactics team from the Southern Police District arrived to assist the Parañaque police.

When the smoke cleared, Ada lay dead from multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of the body.

An officer, identified as PO1 Jimmy Reginaldo from the Special Operations Group, was wounded in the right arm. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Ada’s seven gang mates as well as two alleged mistresses and five male lookouts, who were caught having a pot session in the area, were arrested by policemen.

High-powered firearms, including an M-16 rifle, a machine gun, a shotgun, several handguns, a grenade, and two-way radios were recovered from the suspects.

"From the firearms we got, we could tell that this was a big-time group. This is the biggest criminal syndicate we have busted this year," Estilles said.

The city police chief, however, said the group could be part of a larger network of criminals.

"We can see links with other groups like the Palena Gang that operates in Cavite," he said.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Vidal Querol said members of the operating team would receive medals for contributing to his "anti-hoodlum" program.

Parañaque Mayor Florencio Bernabe said the operation was a major boost to his anti-criminality program in the city as he reiterated his all-out support to the local police.