CAMP MARCELO A. ADDURU, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan – Two suspects in the murder of businessman Jefferson Torricer in 2021 were arrested by the Police Regional Office-2 in Santa Maria, Bulacan, on Sunday, April 21.
Police Brig. Gen. Christopher C. Birung, PRO-2 director, said suspects Jerry, a former police non-commissioned officer now a businessman and a resident of Buguey, Cagayan; and Manny, a retired soldier from Camalaniugan, Cagayan, were caught through warrants of arrest.
Birung said Jerry is the leader of a Potential Private Armed Group (PPAG) in Region 2 or Cagayan Valley known as the Alipio Group. Jerry also faces an attempted murder case over an incident that in Buguey, Cagayan, in August 2016, Birung said.
Police are also investigating the suspect’s alleged involvement in other crimes in 2007 and 2016.
Torricer was killed in a restaurant in December 2021 in Magapit, Lal-Lo, Cagayan.
The PRO-2 was backed by the Santa Maria Municipal Police Station and the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Bulacan Police Provincial Office.
Birung lauded the operating units for their arresting the suspects following intelligence information.
“The apprehension of these high-risk personalities will definitely weaken the power and influence of the potential private armed group, not only in Cagayan Valley but also in other places where they operate. The intensified campaign to crack down PPAGs is purposely to stop the violence they may cause to the community,” Birung said.
National police chief Police Gen. Rommel F. Marbil also commanded operating units.
“A potential private armed group is an organized group of two or more persons, whether identified or unidentified, with legally issued or illegally possessed firearms that could be utilized to sow fear and intimidation for the advancement of and protection of vested political or economic interests of a particular people or entity/organization,” said Marbil.