PNP neutralizes armed group, confiscates 41 firearms

(This article appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, PALO,Leyte - An alleged leader of a private armed group (PAG) operating in Samar and a long time fugitive from the law was killed while a policeman was seriously wounded in a raid conducted by the police authorities yesterday morning, Chief Supt. Rey L. Lañada, Eastern Visayas PNP regional chief reported.

Lañada said that around 11 a.m. yesterday a joint operation of the Special Task Group composed of the Regional Public Safety Management Battalion (RPSMB), Regional Intelligence Division (RID), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) along with operatives of the Calbayog City police and Gandara PNP both in Samar province conducted the raid resulting to the killing of Michael Terga believed to be the leader of “‘Terga” private armed group and the arrest of two other wanted persons in their safe houses in Brgy. San Jose, Patong and Sinatan in Calbayog City.

He said that 20 other armed persons allegedly member of the Terga armed group were apprehended separately in the three mentioned barangays during the raid and 41 firearms were confiscated from the suspects.

Senior Supt. Raul Saysay, commander of the RPSMB-8, said that the police operatives was fired upon by the armed group wounding PO1 Alexis Ablinga. He was immediately rushed to a private hospital in Tacloban City. In recognition of their exemplary performance in line of duty resulting to the neutralization of the Terga armed group, Ablinga and the other policemen will be awarded with a medalya ng Kagalingan by Chief Supt. Lañada on Tuesday.

The confiscate firearms as reported by Lañada were seven short guns, 4 M16 Armalite rifle, two .45 pistols, one INGRAM machine pistol, 1357 revolver, three Cal. .38, one Cal. .22 Magnum, 18 Improvised shotguns, and six magazine fed shotguns, one KG9 Submachine gun, five cal. .22 rifles, three airguns, five magazines for M16, three magazines for cal. 45 pistol and assorted ammunitions.

“This is so far the biggest accomplishment of the command in the campaign against private armed groups, and we are looking ahead to completely dismantle other existing PAGS in Samar in our future operations. We are hoping the cooperation and support of the community”, Lañada told reporters.

Only last week, the police regional office 8 ranked number-one among other 15 regions nationwide in the campaign against PAGs.

Early this year when Lañada assumed office here he created a special unit that would focus and concentrate on the neutralization of PAGs operating all over the region as part of the measures to ensure an honest, orderly and peaceful elections on May.

Just a couple of weeks ago, the police authorities in the region also dismantled the Moloboco private armed group allegedly controlled by a former mayor in Samar.

Nine members of the Moloboco private armed group operating in the first district of Samar were also arrested in a special police operations.

The PNP officials have named eight private armed groups in the region which is now subject for their intelligence build-up and surveillance operations. (MIRIAM GARCIA DESACADA)