NCRPO's most wanted suspects fall with help from social media

Two of the National Capital Region Police Office’s most wanted suspects were arrested amid the enhanced community quarantine with the help of social media.

According to Marisol Abdurahman’s exclusive 24 Oras report on Tuesday, one of those arrested was Prelan Grama, who has been wanted for four years for the December 2015 murder of former Manila Police District Station 3 commander Colonel Cipriano Herrera.

Grama, who was Herrera's former driver, was arrested by NCRPO regional special operations group in Sogod, Southern Leyte on Saturday.

Police operatives said social media was a big help in finding Grama.

“Sa tulong po ng social media at tsaka networking, nagkaroon tayo ng magagandang lead para matunton natin ang kinaroroonan ng mga wanted na tao,” Police Colonel Remus Medina, NCRPO RSOG chief, said.

“Birthday ng anak niya tapos binati niya ‘yong anak niya through Facebook using not his name pero may mukha siya doon kaya nakuha siya,” Medina said.

On Tuesday, Grama, together with the arresting team arrived at the NCRPO headquarters.

Grama did not deny the crime but said he did it for his sister.

“Dahil po sa kapatid ko. Minolestiya po kapatid ko,” he said.

Grama, however, apologized to Herrera’s family.

“Sana mapatawad nila ako sa aking nagawa.”

Meanwhile, Fiscal Mariel Herrera thanked the police for not giving up until they had arrested Grama.

“It has been a long and painful journey for all of us. There were days during the 4-year period na akala ko ‘di na namin siya makuha pero nagpapasalamat ako na ‘di tumigil ‘yong sa kapulisan,” she said.

Napoleon Polendo

Meanwhile, another most wanted suspect was also arrested in La Union.

Napoleon Polendo, who was facing rape charges was arrested after the NCRPO organized an operation.

“Pinainan po namin siya ng chatmate, ka-chat and ang ginawa po naming pang confirm sa location is pinadalan po namin ng pera,” Major Lymel Pasquin, the leader of the arresting team, said.

When Florendo and his chatmate met, the NCRPO team was there to arrest him.

“By February po umuwi ako sa La Union sa lola ko para bisitahin po tas inabot po ng lockdown,” Florendo said.

Moreover, the NCRPO said the lockdown has been a big help in their operations.

“Once matuntong namin ‘yong tao, ‘di sila basta-basta nakakaalis since walang mga quarantine pass at walang mga biyahe sa ilang mga lugar,” Medina said.

Since the lockdown, the NCRPO had arrested 83 wanted criminals. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/DVM, GMA News