PNP zeroes in on 10 of 61 crime gangs 

Ten of 61 active crime gangs are on the priority list of the Philippine National Police.

 

"Pinag-aralan namin 'yung crime incidents for the first nine months of this year and base roon… We identified 61 crime gangs that are involved sa mga krimen...Nakita namin na may 10 grupo that (are) responsible for 41 percent crimes committed," Philippine National Police director for intelligence Charles Calima said on Wednesday.

 

Calima refused to divulge the groups' names but he said they are usually involved in robbery and hold-up incidents and prey on victims withdrawing money from the banks, money changers and remittance centers.  The gangs often operate in Manila, Pasig, and San Juan.

 

Calima and other PNP officials were with Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II visiting the offices of the GMA Network for a “roadshow” on DILG and PNP programs.

 

Roxas said of the 440 people on the PNP's most wanted person's list, 120 have been arrested. Of the 416 members of crime gangs, 52 have been captured and detained. 

 

According to Police Supt. Benjamin Magalong, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the members of the 10 top criminal gangs regrouped from remnants of other groups.

 

Magalong said the "Tolin group" is one whose members were from the Paracale and Ozamiz gangs.

 

"Previously, may surveillance pa sila, ngayon hit agad. Ganito ka-overconfident 'tong grupo na 'to," he said. 

 

The Tolin group's leader and four members were arrested this year, he added. They are allegedly involved in some 30 incidents or robbery and hold-up. The group has at least 20 members.

 

Although they operate in Metro Manila, Magalong said the crime gangs move "all over the country" including Mindanao, Bicol, Samar, and Agusan del Sur. 

 

"Ongoing ang operations namin. May mga nahuli pero kung sabihin namin ang mga pangalan baka lalo kaming mahirapan at kung saan-saan sila magpunta...Kung dati, kapag ang criminal gang ay nag-commit ng crime sa Maynila, hinahanap lang ng pulis sa Maynila… Ngayon, kahit saan sila magpunta, it now becomes a concern of the whole PNP. Hindi lang ng Manila Police," Calima said. — ELR/LBG, GMA News