BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS & RUBY P. SILUBRICO
ILOILO – The leader of a criminal gang operating in Iloilo province was arrested in Barangay Guadalupe, Makati City at around 12:09 p.m. on Thursday, June 1.
Elfren Bagatnan, alias “Pedoy”, 31, of Barangay Agcaradao, Ajuy, Iloilo was the head of the Bagatnan Criminal Gang engaged in gun-for-hire activities.
He was also the No. 1 most wanted in Region 6.
Bagatnan was served with arrest warrants for two counts of murder issued by Judge Oscar Sancho Billena of the Regional Trial Court in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.
Ajuy police chief Lieutenant General Enrique Robles said Bagatnan’s two arrest warrants were for the deaths of two persons shot in the municipalities of Ajuy and Barotac Viejo.
“We received information that he was hiding somewhere in Makati City and we immediately coordinated with our colleagues in Makat,” Robles said.
Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director Colonel Ronaldo Palomo earlier confirmed they were monitoring two criminal gangs – the Libuna and Bagatnan groups.
“I commend everyone who participated in this successful operation…This also means that sooner the Bagatnan Criminal Gang will be dismantled,” Palomo said.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, acting director of the Police Regional Office 6, also commended the operating units adding that the arrest of Bagatnan pre-empted their regrouping.
“Kung hindi sya nahuli baka mag-regroup sila para maging goons this coming local elections,” Villaflor said./PN
