BATANGAS COP SIDE HUSTLING AS LEADER OF ‘GAPOS GANG’ ARRESTED IN BULACAN

BY KEVIN GALANG

CAMP OLIVAS, City of San Fernando, Pampanga — A police officer who is also the alleged leader of a “Gapos Gang”  involve in a series of robberies in Bulacan province on Thursday was arrested in Sta. Maria town.

Arrested was a 34-year-old cop detailed as team leader of the Motorcycle Patrol Unit of the Tanauan City Police Station in Batangas.

The victims, a businessman and his two office staff members, all residents of Meycauayan, Bulacan, informed the Santa Maria police of the robbery.

A swift hot-pursuit operation conducted by joint members of the Santa Maria police, Provincial Intelligence Unit-Bulacan, Regional Special Operations Group-Police Regional Office 3, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Bulacan Provincial Field Unit, and the Tanauan Component City police, arrested the cop-suspect.

The suspect’s three cohorts remain at-large.

Seized from the arrested suspect were two cal. .45 pistols (one replica), three magazines and 12 live bullets, two car plate numbers, nine mobile phones, cash in a plastic bag marked “Mentos,” a bolt cutter, and 59 pieces of white cable ties.

The arrested suspect admitted that he and his cohorts have been able to victimize victims during three hold up incidents in Angat, Bocaue, and Sta Maria, all in Bulacan.

Last Saturday, the group entered a rice store in Bocaue, tied up the employees and carted away the money and the personal belongings of the people inside.

On Wednesday, the group again attacked a softdrinks  warehouse in Sta Maria, Bulacan.

The arrested cop will be charged with robbery with intimidation and illegal possession of firearms.

Police Regional Office 3 director Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones Jr. commended the police team and condemned the suspect’s involvement in the crime.

“We will never tolerate any member of the police force who dares betray the uniform and the public trust. This arrest is a testament to our strengthened campaign under the guidance of our acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., focused on crime prevention, thorough investigation, and internal cleansing,” said Peñones.

“We assure the public that the PNP remains firm in bringing criminals to justice—whether civilian or police personnel—and in restoring public confidence in law enforcement,” he added.