Three alleged members of a criminal group responsible for illegal drugs and shooting incidents were arrested by the police in Taguig on Thursday, July 14.
The suspects were identified as Paul Adrienne Patricio, 20; Ron Bryan Esteban, 21; and Mark John Esteban, 27.
According to the police, the three are members of the Loloy Fernandez Drug Group who were arrested on J.P. Rizal Street in Barangay Tuktukan, Taguig.
The Taguig police’s Intelligence Section received a call from a barangay intelligence network agent about three men who were armed with guns in the area. Intelligence operatives and SWAT personnel proceeded to the area to verify the report.
During the search, arresting officers confiscated one 9mm-caliber pistol with one magazine loaded with three pieces of live ammunition, one cartridge of 40-mm explosive, one fan knife (“balisong”), and one .38-caliber revolver loaded with three pieces of live ammunition.
The police also seized five plastic sachets containing suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) weighing 15.1 grams, and with a value of P98,150.
Patricio was arrested for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and Batas Pambansa Bilang 6 for illegal possession of a bladed weapon, while Esteban was nabbed for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and R.A. 9165.
Herrera was arrested for violation of R.A. 10591 and Republic Act 9516 for illegal possession of explosives.
According to the police, the Loloy Fernandez Drug Group is a criminal gang allegedly involved in the proliferation of illegal drugs in Taguig with its main base in Barangay Ususan.
The group is also allegedly involved in a series of shooting incidents in Taguig where victims were mostly drug personalities who failed to remit earnings from their illegal drug trade.
The police added that police officers and other members of law enforcement agencies who refused to take bribes from them and take part in anti-illegal drugs operations were threatened and attacked by the group.
The arrested suspects are detained at the custodial facility of Taguig police while the recovered pieces of evidence were turned over to Southern Police District Forensic Unit for chemical analysis and ballistics examination.
“Rest assured that this will not be the end for this criminal group because our intensified intelligence gathering measures continue to hunt other members of this notorious group,” said SPD director Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg.