By Vic Larato
ZAMBOANGA CITY - The police operations against the illegal drugs and gambling are gaining ground following the arrest of suspected drug pushers and gamblers, according to Sr. Supt. Angelito Casimiro, officer-in-charge of the Zamboanga City Police Office.
Supt. Casimiro told the weekly news conference in City Hall Monday that for the period March 17-22 elements of the ZCPO had conducted six operations against illegal drugs, which resulted in the arrest of 11 persons and confiscation of P1,500 drug money.
He identified those arrested as Bryan B. Perez of Lunzuran, Jan Francis Villanueva Y Sarmiento , Reynante C. Alvarez alias Tatah, Reynante Q. Alvarez alias Onyok, Geasamin Gonzales, Carmie Matulak, Ammad Askali y Butlangan, Nasser Tan y Mohammad, John Mark Magdayo, Christopher D. Sayson and John Zeno A. Carpio.
For the same period, the police also carried out 15 operations against illegal gambling that resulted in the confiscation of 16 slot machines, seven fighting cocks and a motorcycle believed used during the cockfighting locally known as “tarian” in Lunzuran.
Meanwhile, Casimiro said the police have recovered three stolen motorcycles, one of which a Honda Wave with plate No. 2122 JK was recovered from the suspect identified as Ryan Midel Y Sanchez in Recodo. A vase has been filed against him in court.
In the fight against human trafficking, Casimiro said elements of Police Station 5 in Divisoria swooped down on a house in at Morning Glory in Barangay Putik and rescue 11 trafficked persons last March 22.
Casimiro also reported the arrest of suspected kidnap for ransom group leader Mamay Aburi and four others in Parañaque City last March 19 by virtue of arrest warrant for illegal possession of firearms and explosives. No bail was recommended.
A report disclosed that Aburi had led a notorious group responsible for the series of kidnapping and extortion activities in Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga City in coordination with the Abu Sayyaf Group based in Basilan.
Information gathered during debriefing on captured members of the Aburi group revealed that the suspects planned and executed the kidnapping of Randel Talania, Cynthia Cabuberder, 5 years old, Alexa Dela Cruz Pulbos and the recently released kidnap victim teacher Cathy Casipong.
Furthermore, they were also responsible for the massacre of the ten Badjao fishermen on Dec. 26, 2013 off Pandalosan Island, Olutangga, Zamboanga Sibugay Province. They were also involved in the kidnapping of Australian national Warren Rodwell.
Aburi and his cohorts were brought to CIDG, PNP Camp Crame for detention, Casimiro said.