3 killed, 2 wounded in raid on Batangas jueteng den

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna — Three people, including a member of the Philippine Army intelligence unit, were killed while two were wounded in an alleged shootout between law enforcers led by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and jueteng personnel in Tanauan, Batangas yesterday morning.

Superintendent Francisco Rodriguez, Tanauan police chief, reported to Police Director Domingo Reyes Jr., Southern Tagalog regional police director, the shootout happened during a raid on the house of Armando Lucido in Barangay Pantay Matanda, Tanauan City at about 7 a.m. yesterday.

Rodriguez said the raid, led by NBI agents from the National Capital Region headed by Atty. Ricardo Diaz, was based on a search warrant issued by Judge Enrico Lanzanas of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 7, against Lucido for illegal possession of firearms.

The fatalities were identified as Arnel Barbasa, member of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) Special Operations Group (SOG); Mario Castro, Lucido’s house occupant; and Fidel Micosa, 79, a World War II veteran.

Barbasa succumbed to a gunshot wound on the head and Castro, on the body. Micosa died of heart attack while the shootout was underway.

The wounded were identified as Pasencio Malveda, 38, of San Francisco, Sto. Tomas, Batangas; and Lawrence Torres, 37, of Barangay IV, Alaminos, Laguna.

After the shootout, 16 people were arrested. They were believed to be collectors (cobrador) and supervisors (cabo) of illegal number games better known as jueteng operating in the fourth congressional district of Batangas.

Investigation revealed that combined teams of NBI, ISAFP-SOG, and Batangas police intelligence, and 102nd Batangas mobile police group, were about to serve the search warrant when Castro allegedly shot Barbasa on the head.

The raiding teams fired back, killing Castro and wounding of Torres and Malveda.

Reports said a caliber .45 pistol, three .45 cal. pistol magazines, 16 pieces of cal. 45 ammunition; and two pieces of armalite rifle empty shells, and a .38 cal. revolver were recovered at the raided house.

Arrested were Nato Malveda, 52; and Carlos Malveda, 50, both of Barangay San Francisco. Sto. Tomas, Batangas; Celso Esconde, 44, Romeo Pandeno, 57, Leonardo Bautista, 31, Nestor Landicho, 31, Rommel Lidan, 32, Lubert Castro, 23, Rico Lidan, 34, all of Barangay IV, Alaminos, Laguna;

Sergio Talaera, 63, and Bernardo Pello, 31, both of M. H. Garcia, Cabanatuan City; Alfredo Cortez, 34, and Octavio Estarez, both of barangay Alisan, San Pablo City and Urbano Dizon, 53, resident of Barangay San Lucas, Lipa City.

The fatalities, wounded, and the arrested persons along with the seized items were brought by NBI agents to Manila, Rodriguez said. — With Ed Amoroso