Ex-Zambo mayor, 14 gun-for-hire members nabbed

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A leader of the gun-for-hire group and 14 of his members, including a former mayor and a council representative, were arrested in a law enforcement operation Saturday dawn in a town of Zamboanga del Sur, according to police official.

Chief Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo, deputy director for administration of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO), said the suspects were arrested during the simultaneous implementation of warrant of arrest in Sominot town by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) backed by the Special Action Force (SAF).

De Ocampo said the planned raid was executed by the out of the town forces following the surveillance hatched by the local authorities on the suspects.

De Ocampo identified those arrested suspects as: Stephen Cases Acosta, former mayor of Sominot town; Arnel Quimno Pepito, leader of the Pepito gun-for-hire group; his siblings Garry Quimno Pepito; Edgar Quimno Pepito; Nemecia Quimno Pepito, incumbent Association of Barangay President and ex-officio councilor of Sominot town; Rey Sumalinog Pepito; Ruthern dela Torre Biawan; Allan Eturma Decierdo; Anicito Culanag Andulong; Rolando Anding Ramayrat; Romeo Batac Capangpngan; Jesryl Cabijenas Romo; Lorenzo Oñez Malayao; Roberto Tigtig Hasma; and Rolando Dahuya Andrade.

De Ocampo said the group leader has standing warrant of arrest for attempted muder issued by the Regional Trial Court 10 of Oroquita City.

The raiding forces also recovered from the suspects at least 10 firearms, including seven .45 caliber pistols, three M16 rifles, and a .38 caliber revolver, three fragmentation grenades, and assorted ammunition.

According to De Ocampo, all the apprehended suspects were placed under the custody of the CIDG for filing of the charges.