5 crime gang members fall in Taguig City raid

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities on Tuesday collared five suspected members of a criminal syndicate during a raid in Taguig City.

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group(CIDG), Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force and Special Action Force nabbed Roger Ortiz, Abdullah Banog, Ronnie Imbalgan, Junjun Panday and Dodoy Toling.

The five men are reportedly members of the Sahid Utto group, which is engaged in gunrunning, gun-for-hire, illegal drugs trade, robbery operating in the cities of Pasig and Taguig and adjacent towns such as Taytay, Rizal.

CIDG chief Director Benjamin Magalong said the five were arrested inside a house at Block 1 Lot 16 C-6 Road, Barangay Napindan, Taguig City, around 5 a.m.

Magalong said that the arrest was covered by four search warrants under the names of Mads Utto and three others issued by the Taguig Court.

During the raid, authorities seized shabu amounting to P1 million, an improvised shotgun, two .45 pistols, suspected drug money amounting to more than P6,000, and different identification cards.

The operatives also recovered a police badge owned by a deceased policeman. The badge was used in the group's illegal activities, Magalong said.

The suspects are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 also known asComprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.