CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – Police gunned down Tuesday Eastern Visayas top most wanted person during raid at the suspects’ hideout along 2nd Street Fairlane Subdivision, Barangay San Vicente, Tarlac City, authorities here said.
Chief Supt. Amador Corpus, Regional Director Central Luzon PNP, identified the suspect as Genesis Oquendo, alias “Etin”, of Calbayog City and alleged leader of Oquendo Criminal Group operating in Eastern Visayas and Metro Manila.
Four other members of the gang were arrested, they were William Remon, 53, of Bggy. Paulog, Ligao, Albay; Gerome Vasquez, 43, a security guard and resident of Bgy. Banao, Guinobatan, Albay; Henry Palmones, 48, of Guinobatan, Albay and Victor Vasquez, 40, of Bgy. Banao, Guinabatan, Albay.
Oquendo group, according to police authorities is allegedly gun-for-hire gang responsible in the series of murder incidents in Region 8 and National Capital Region (NCR) including the assassination of Bureau of Internal Revenue executive recently in Makati City.
Senior Supt. Nick Torre, director of the Eastern Samar Provincial Police Office, said Oquendo’s group was placed under surveillance by Samar police operatives following reports on another hit to be carried out in Central Luzon areas.
“We have received reports that the group was about to pull another hit in Central Luzon specifically in Tarlac City that prompted us to coordinate with Tarlac City Police before we sent a tracker team there,” said Torre over the phone.
Torre said Oquendo occupies the top rank of the Eastern Visayas police list of most wanted persons. He said the group operates in Leyte-Samar areas, Bicol region and Metro Manila.
Police sources said Oquendo formerly worked as a civilian security aide of a prominent politician in Eastern Visayas before he was killed in Tarlac City.
Corpus said joint operatives of Tarlac City Police and Intelligence Branch, Samar PPO proceeded at Zaraga Apartment, 2nd St. Fairlane Subd. Brgy. San Vicente, Tarlac City to serve a warrant of arrest three counts of murder issued by Judge Ernesto L. Penaflor of Calabayog City Regional Trial Court.
Sensing presence of lawmen, Corpus said Oquendo opened fire towards the policemen which prompted them to return fire instantly killing the suspect. Four others surrendered peacefully to authorities with their firearms.
“The four other suspects who have heard of gunburst peacefully surrendered,” said Corpus.
Seized from their possession were handguns including two pieces of calibre 45 pistols, calibre 38 revolver and ammunition for different kinds of firearms.
Except for Oquendo, Corpus said the four arrested suspects are detained at the Tarlac City Police Office as illegal possession of firearms and ammunition charges are being readied against them.
Seized from their possession were the following: one STI EDGE Cal .45 with serial number 763127 loaded with seven (7) live ammunition; one Colt cal .45 with serial number 120581 loaded with two (2) live ammunition; one Cal .38 loaded with 4 live ammunition on its cylinder; and, five ammunition for Cal.45.
Meanwhile, recovered from the crime scene were two fired cartridge cases for 9MM, four fired cartridge cases for cal .45 and one Cal .45 pistol PARA 1911.