Cops nab 6 leaders of highway holdup group

By Vency D. Bulayungan

LAGAWE, Ifugao – Leaders of an armed group in this province were arrested last week which may now stop  illegal activities of its members.

Provincial police director, Senior Supt. Angelito Casimiro identified the arrested armed group members as Briann Dinamling Pitpitunge, Miller Binalayan Pumihic, Jerome Calingayan Capuyo, Alfredo Poddonan Jr., Victor Pugong Dinamling and Nelson DinalingButic.

Pitpitunge's group was arrested at Gurel, BukodBenguet  by PNP personnel of Benguet.Recovered from the group were  one  M16 rifle, three caliber . 45 pistol,  and  one  caliber. 22.

Casimiro said that the group was  the suspect in a highway robbery at Sitio Indalmugan in Kiangan town on February 26, 2012   where a  total amount of P400,000 of cash and personal belongings  of commuters were carted away by the robbers.

Intelligence police report disclosed that prior to their arrest,Pitpitunge and Pumihic were members of the Gabriel Lunag Robbery Group operating in the provinces of Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela and Ifugao.

The said group was led by Gabriel Lunag, a native of Namulditan, Hingyon who was arrested by operatives of Kasibu Police Station in Nueva Vizcaya while his mentor, William Tapilang alias Tuginay, a barrio mate of the group leader was nabbed by Ifugao police in 2011.

Both were charged with robbery with violence against or intimidation at the Regional Trial Court  Branch 37.