CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Five alleged members of a private armed group, tagged by police authorities as responsible for different criminal activities in Central Luzon, were arrested during a raid at their hideout somewhere in Nueva Ecija and Pampanga over the weekend.
National police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde identified the suspects as Dennis Matias, Mary Ann Mallari, Raymund Dequina, John Llana and Jackie Lou Isidro, all members of the Peralta Crime Group operating in different areas in Region 3.
The group is being headed by Ricardo Peralta, leader of the dreaded Red Vigilante Group (RVG) and alleged suspect in the gunslay of Ericson and Eberson Pascual at the Gapan City, Nueva Ecija cockpit arena sometime on 2006.
Peralta is listed as a top wanted person in Central Luzon. He carries P5 million reward on his head once arrested.
Peralta is co-accused with former Gapan City mayor Ernesto Natividad in the double murder of the Pascual siblings, according to police records.
Peralta’s group provides services as PAG of notorious politicians and their activites are sustained through illegal drugs and kidnap-for-ransom operations.
Albayalde lauded the Anti-Kidnapping Group under Chief Superintendent Glenn Dumlao for showing responsiveness to instructions from the National Headquarters to hit hard against Organized Crime Groups involved in illegal Drugs and Gun-for-Hire activities, including Private Armed Groups and their criminal support systems.
He said the Peralta group has been involved in a long list of assassinations in Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Tarlac, Metro Manila, and Cagayan Valley.
Seized from the suspects’ possessions include two assault rifles: two handguns:a carbine conversion kit; a 12-gauge shot gun; hand grenade and improvise explosive device; four units of mobile phones; ATMs of different banks; and three splrts utility vehivles (SUV).
The suspects were taken to anti-kidnapping task force headquatters in Camp Crame for further investigation as criminal compalints are being readied against them. (Jess Malabanan)