Inopacan cops nab 2 Ilaga Gang "members"

INOPACAN, LEYTE, Philippines  – Policemen of this town have arrested separately two wanted persons in connection with the series of armed robberies stretching from the southern town of Matalom to Ormoc City in the north of Leyte province.

On the strength of two arrest warrants, both issued by Judge Ephrem Abando of RTC Branch 18, the police first arrested Zaldy Paguipo, a resident of Brgy. Conalum in this town, and later Hermigildo Rusiana, a chief tanod of Bgy De los Santos.

At first attempt, police failed to arrest Paguipo who was at the time at a barangay in Hilongos town doing carpentry work for a fishing vessel. When the police arrived at his workplace, he had already escaped to Bato town, and when his wife called him, he was already in Jagna town in Bohol.

Upon the proddings of his wife though, Paguipo arranged to meet the authorities in Hilongos port on Saturday, so he took a boat from Ubay, Bohol to Hilongos, Leyte.

Rusiana, for his part, was cornered in his barangay while on duty as chief tanod. The two did not resist arrest and are now charged with cases of robbery with violence and intimidation of persons. Judge Abando set a P20,000 bail bond each for their temporary liberty.

According to an official from the Police Regional Office-8, the two were members of the Ilaga Gang, which was allegedly responsible for the robberies of Codilla’s Petron (Ormoc)—resulted in the death of two workers, of Fuel Firm (gas station –Inopacan), of Caltex Station (Hilongos), of LBC (Baybay), and of the payroll money from Barangay Treasurer Delos Santos.

They were also implicated in carnapping incidents in the 4th and 5th districts of Leyte, several private persons and the latest JGC Lending heist in Ormoc City.

Inopacan Mayor Silvestre Lumarda told The FREEMAN he did not expect the two to be involved in such crimes. “Ang usa (Rusiana) tanod ug ang usa (Paguipo) nahibaw-an dinhi nga maayo mupanday og mga sakayan,” he said.

During the presentation of the suspects in his office, Lumarda advised them to change their lives for the better. “With your skills, you can be good citizens and contribute to the development of our town,” said the mayor as he told Inopacan Police chief Allan Cerro that the rule of law be applied and due process be observed.  (FREEMAN)