243 wanted persons arrested in January — CIDG

More than 200 wanted persons, including 56 who were facing criminal charges for heinous crimes, were arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in January 2012 alone.   CIDG chief Director Samuel D Pagdilao Jr. said among the 243 arrested were two members of the al Qaeda-linked bandit group Abu Sayyaf, namely Sonny Bakim Barahim alias Abu Ismael and Harun Jaljalis alias Abu Indal, both from Basilan.   In a statement, the CIDG identified the other high profile wanted persons it arrested last month as:  

• Ceferino Atienza, alias Dimas, leader of the Dimas Gun for Hire Group who is wanted for the murder of a councilman in Sto Tomas, Batangas in 2009;
• Rodel Ledesma, leader of a kidnapping for ransom group responsible for the abduction of a businessman in Imus, Cavite;
• Joseph Enriquez, listed as number 10 most wanted in Teresita, Batangas for child abuse; Ernel Merillo, listed as number 3 most wanted in San Francisco, Quezon for rape;
• Erick Dino of Maragondon, Cavite, who is wanted for three counts of murder and frustrated murder;
• Christopher Javier, Servando Nones and Guillermo Nones, all of Tanauan City, Batangas for carnapping and attempted murder; and
• Joseph Baral of Nasugbu, Batangas, who is wanted for murder.

  Pagdilao said the CIDG also arrested during last month’s aggressive campaign against most wanted persons a Korean national, Song Byung Hoon, who is wanted for estafa. Hoon, 43, was was arrested last Jan. 20 in Sitio Nagpayong, Brgy. Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City by members of Rizal Provincial CIDG team.   Pagdilao said the CIDG’s success in accounting for most wanted persons at the onset of the year “manifests the group’s fruitful efforts in forging a strong partnership with the community in the battle against criminality.”   He said most of the wanted persons were apprehended through the help of the CIDG’s force multipliers, the Community Investigative Support (CIS). — KBK, GMA News