3 arrested, guns and ammo seized in raids vs. Batangas crime gang

Three suspected members of a criminal gang were arrested and several firearms and ammunition were seized in a raid on 11 of their lairs in Batangas province Friday, the Philippine National Police said Saturday.

But the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group failed to catch the leader of the gang, whom it identified as Leonilo Bantugon, a GMA News TV "QRT" report aired Friday said.



In a post on its Facebook page, the CIDG said its operatives teamed with the elite PNP Special Action Force in the raid on the safe houses of the Bantugon Group.

"The group is known for (its) illegal activities such as oil pilferage (paihi and pasingaw), gun-running, gun-for-hire and intimidation of business rivals in the municipalities of Bauan and Mabini in Batangas," the CIDG said.

Serving 11 search warrants starting at 4:45 a.m., police seized two carbine rifles, a cal-.45 pistol, two cal-.22 pistols, a 9mm Beretta pistol, a cal-.380 pistol, and ammunition.

They also seized military camouflage uniforms.

Arrested were Raniel Peje, Renante Peje, and Joseph Dizon. They will be charged for illegal possession of firearms. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News