NBI captures Waray-Waray gang leader in Rizal

A leader of a Waray-Waray Kidnap For Ransom (KFR) splinter group, who reportedly participated in the abduction of some 20 people and a string of armed robberies, was apprehended by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents in San Mateo, Rizal.

NBI Acting Director Nestor Mantaring said the 29-year-old Noel Enacmal, who previously worked as a construction worker, was arrested by agents from the National Capital Region (NCR) near his house in Barangay Mali, San Mateo, Rizal Thursday.

Enacmal is reportedly one of the leaders of the Calvin Lagado-Noel Enacmal Waray-Waray kidnapping syndicate and was allegedly involved in a number of pawnshop, payroll and bank robberies. Majority of its members are from Leyte.

Regional Director Ruel Lasala, of the NBI-NCR, said one of Enacmal’s henchmen, Andres Lucero, revealed his whereabouts. Lucero, along with Enacmal’s brother Fromencio and Gualberto Castillaja, were captured in Cavite and Pasig City early this month.

With his arrest, the NBI neutralized another faction of the Waray-Waray KFR group. The NBI has captured other kidnapping leaders namely Lagado and Rogelio Morfe.

The NBI said the Waray-Waray is the most active KFR group operating in Metro Manila.

Last June 22, joint elements of the NBI and the San Mateo police swooped down on his safe house in Rizal. Upon realizing that he was surrounded, Enacmal surrendered to authorities.

"He was arrested on the basis of the four pending warrants of arrests, including a Union Bank robberies in Parañaque City in 2004, a murder case, and a frustrated murder case for injuring a Mandaluyong policeman who tried to arrest him," Lasala said.

NBI records showed that Enacmal reportedly started his criminal career in 1993, when he was only 16 years old. He first joined the Waray-Waray armed robbery group of Conrado and Michael Camiller, wherein he participated in 15 robberies. He joined the Ilonggo Group and was part of at least 10 heists, including a P60,000 payroll robbery in Cubao, Quezon City.

He was also allegedly involved in several kidnapping cases such as that of Coca-Cola executive Betty Chua-Sy; Danny Uy in Malate, Manila; a Korean national in Balintawak, Caloocan City; William Uy, an owner of a hardware store in Letre, Malabon; Wilbert Uy and Mr. Dy in Quezon City; Gelina Dy in Paco, Maninla; a certain Mr. Ty in Binondo; and a certain Mr. Tan in Laguna.

Lasala said they would need to verify with the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) unit if Enacmal is included in their order of battle.