Right-hand man of notorious crime group arrested

Agents of the Northern Police District intelligence unit arrested the alleged right-hand man of a well-entrenched criminal gang engaged in highway robbery and highjacking Saturday in Tondo, Manila.

Carlito Estrera, 43, of Interior Hipon street, Barangay 12, Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan City, was apprehended inside an illegal cockpit at the vicinity of Vitas Slaughter House in Tondo at around 2:30 p.m.

Chief Superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr., NPD director, said that Estrera, who is facing charges of illegal possession of firearms at the Caloocan City court, was arrested through a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Luisito Sardillo of the city’s Regional Trial Court Branch 126.

Interviewed in his cell, Estrera admitted that he was a "trusted" member of the Tiplis Group but said he had already severed his ties with the notorious gang.

"I already severed my ties with the group for quite sometime," Estrera told The STAR.

He said he decided to dissociate with the group after he figured in a near fatal gunfight with his policeman boss during a quarrel while partaking their loot.

Tiplis Group is said to be engaged in big-time highjacking and robbery holdup activities, which Estrera said was headed by an active policeman, a certain Sergeant Tiplis.

Chief Inspector Sotero Ramos Jr., NPD-DPIU chief, said that the Tiplis Gang is listed in the police’s Order of Battle on organized crime groups operating in Metro Manila and adjacent localities.

Estrera disclosed that after cutting his ties with Tiplis, he put up his own group, the Sako Gang, that preyed on game fowl farms in provinces such as Bicol, Tuguegarao and Pampanga.

"The offense is less risky," he said.

The Sako Gang, he said, operates in the provinces using rented cars to transport stolen imported game fowls, which they sell to cockfighting aficionados in Metro Manila for only P3,000 to P4,000 each.

"We place the fighting cocks inside sacks, bribe farm guards and within three days of operations flee with at least 30 game fowls," Estrera said.

The police, however, said they do not believe Estrera’s story that he is no longer connected with the Tiplis Group.