Army eyes Aurora clan behind gang of ex-rebs

DILASAG, Aurora – Army officials are keeping a close watch on a "prominent family" here which has reportedly built up a virtual army of goons composed of former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

The private army reportedly attempted to raid a military detachment here in retaliation for military operations against its illegal activities.

In a report to Maj. Gen. Alberto Braganza, commander of the 71st Infantry Division, Col. Jovenal Narcise, commander of the 702nd Infantry Brigade, said the family is believed to have organized former rebels into a syndicate which has been putting up checkpoints along remote highways in northern parts of this province to extort from trucks loaded with logs.

Narcise declined to identify the family pending the gathering of more evidence to establish its links with the syndicate.

Earlier, soldiers of the 701st IB arrested three alleged members of the gang after swooping down on their checkpoint here. Seized from them were 10 assorted high-powered firearms, magazines and ammunition.

The three, identified as Arnold Juego of Baler, and Rizalino Sanches and Jose Mendoza, both of this town, were later released after they posted bail.

Narcise said at least 10 members of the syndicate, in an apparent retaliatory move, recently positioned themselves at the Diagyan Elementary School at the back of the Army’s patrol base in a supposed attempt to raid the military unit.

Alert soldiers at the base detected them and fired warning shots in the air. A 15-minute firefight ensued, eventually forcing the syndicate members to flee toward Barangays Dilaguidi and Dikabasan, according to Lt. Col. Herbert Yambing, 70th IB commander.

"There were no casualties on the government side, but there were bloodstains along the escape route of the enemy," Narcise said.

He said soldiers found an empty shell of a rifle grenade, and shells of M-16, M-14, caliber 30 Garand, and caliber 30 carbine rifles.