Cops nab 2 guns-for-hire in Abra

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet - Two wanted private armed group (PAG) members in this conflict-stricken province were recently arrested.

Regional police director Chief Supt. Benjamin B. Magalong identified the suspects as BenjieBulawatCaliflores, 43, a fun-for-hire of the Tandingan Guayem Group, native of Ba-i, Lagayan and a resident of Poblacion, La Paz town and Ronald Paingan Deogracias, 35, of Barangay, Collago, Lagayan.

Califlores was arrested Feb. 17 in La Paz for three counts of murder, 5 counts of frustrated murder and 3 counts of attempted murder by following arrest warrants  issued by Judge Corpuz B. Alzate of the Regional Trial Court Branch 2, Bangued, Abra.

Magalong disclosed that Deograsias was arrested on Feb. 27 at Barangay Pulot, Lagayan after Judge Alzateisssed warrants for his arrest for murder and two counts of attempted murder issued by Charito J. Gonzales, presiding RTC judge of Bangued.

Deogracias, a gun-for-hire was reportedly a member of the Vincent Guzman Group.

The two wanted persons are now under the custody of the Abra Provincial Office..

PCSUPT Magalong lauded the members of the Regional Special Operations Task Group led by Senior Supt. Roberto Q. Soriano, RSOTG commander and PRO-COR deputy regional director for administration, and his deputy RSOTG Senior Supt. Benjamin M. Lusad, provincial police director of Abra for arrest and neutralization of wanted persons particularly against identified PAG members.