by Franco Regala
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – Three notorious gun-for-hire personalities were killed during encounters with authorities in separate operations.
In Tarlac, The leader of the notorious “Oquendo Gun For Hire Group’’ identified as Genesis Oquendo alias “Etin Oquendo” was killed after he reportedly traded shots with policemen inside the Zaraga Apartment, 2nd St. Fairlane Subd. Brgy. San Vicente.
Oquendo, a native of Calbayog City, is also considered as Samar’s No. 1 in their most wanted list. Four of Oquendo’s cohorts were also nabbed during the operation.
Chief Supt. Amador V. Corpus, Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) director identified the arrested suspects as William Manayoba Remon, 53 years old and a resident of Ligao, Albay; Gerome Garde Vasquez, 43, security guard, of Purok 1, Brgy. Banao; Henry Napod Palmones, 48, farmer, of Brgy. San Francisco, and Vctor Garde Vasquez, 40, of Banao, all in Guinubatan, Albay.
In an interview, Corpus said the slain leader of the group was involved in a series of killing incidents in Samar province.
Oquendo also has a pending warrant of arrest for three counts of murder also in Samar.
According to Corpus, joint operatives of Tarlac City Police Station (PS) and Intelligence Branch, Samar Provincial Police Office (PPO) were about to serve a warrant of arrest on Oquendo who opted to shoot it out with authorities, leading the death of the notorious gunman.
In Candaba, Pampanga, two members of the dreaded dreaded “Arnold Balagtas Group” were killed in a shootout with cops.
Pampanga provincial police director Senior Supt. Joel Rentor Consulta said the slain suspects were identified only by their aliases – alias Umeng and alias Sonny, said to be members of Arnold Balagtas Group who were responsible in the motor-riding-in-tandem killing incidents in Pampanga and nearby provinces in recent months.
In a report to Chief Amador V. Corpus, Central Luzon police director, Consulta said that prior to the shootout, operatives of Pampanga Provincial Public Safety Company received reports that the suspects tagged in the killing of a former councilor of Brgy Concepcion, San Simon were seen armed on board a single motorcycle at Brgy Pulong Plazan, Candaba, Pampanga.
Operating team immediately conducted random checkpoint operation at said place and chanced upon the duo. Police authorities tried to flag down the duo for verification but instead of slowing down, suspects opened fired upon the police officers and tried to escape.
A brief exchange of gunfire ensued resulting in their injury. Both suspects were brought to the nearest hospital where they were both declared dead on arrival.
