5 PAG members nabbed in Ilocos

By Mar T Supnad

CAMP FLORENDO, San Fernando City, La Union -- Five suspected members of Private Armed Groups in the Ilocos Region were recently arrested.

Chief Supt. Constante D. Azares, Jr., Ilocos police chief bared this Wednesday, adding to effectively address the issue of PAGs, his command earlier organized eleven special task groups (STGs) to dismantle identified eleven PAGs in Region 1.

Azares identified the neutralized PAG members as Dennis Serquina and Warlito Roriquito , both members of the Alvin Flores Group, a notorious criminal gang.

Also neutralized were Armando Flores and Nicolas Laroya, both from Pangasinan province; and Alvin Uniag from Naguilian town in La Union.

“Our operatives are undertaking continuous intelligence monitoring of the PAGs’ activities in coordination with other intelligence units,“ Azares said. “Our stepped-up checkpoint operations also serve as pro-active measure against the PAGs. Their movements are now significantly restricted in view of the established checkpoints operating round-the-clock in the whole region.”

Region 1 police have already conducted a total 3,696 checkpoint operations; arrested 69 persons for violating the gun ban; and confiscated a total of 45 firearms.

Azares said security preparation being undertaken by his command with the Commission on Elections and Armed Forces of the Philippines counterparts, coupled with the active support and involvement of other election stakeholders, will ensure honest, orderly and peaceful elections in Region 1.