Camp Marcelo A Adduru, Tuguegarao City – After a year of manhunt operation, Police Regional Office 2 through its Regional Police Intelligence and Operations Unit – Regional Intelligence Division (RPIOU-RID) finally netted one of the members of the Potential Private Armed Group in Cagayan Valley dubbed as “Babaran Group” in a police operation in 13th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City yesterday, July 1.

Through the service of a warrant of arrest issued in June 2023, alias “Benjie,” 42 years old and a resident of Barangay Remus, Baggao, Cagayan was apprehended by police authorities for violation of Republic Act 10591 known as Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act with recommended bail amounting to Php120,000.00 and Republic Act 9516 or the law Amending P.D. 1866 on Illegal Possession of Firearms.

According to the Regional Intelligence Division 2, the PPAG “Babaran Group” allegedly operates in the Province of Isabela. Potential Private Armed Groups (PAG) are unauthorized armed groups or individuals operating outside of the law. These groups may possess firearms and weapons without proper authorization and may engage in illegal activities such as militancy, insurgency, or criminal activities.

Moreover, PBGEN CHRISTOPHER C BIRUNG, PRO2 Regional Director extended his commendation to all operatives involved in the successful arrest of alias “Benjie”.

“Your swift and decisive actions have led to the apprehension of a dangerous individual who poses a threat to the peace and security of our region. By taking this member of the PPAG off the streets, you have helped to prevent potential acts of violence and illegal activities from taking place. We should always ensure that our constituents are safe and secured relative to the “Ligtas Ka sa Bagong Pilipinas” mantra of PGEN ROMMEL FRANCISCO MARBIL, Chief, Philippine National Police,” PBGEN BIRUNG further said.

Other operatives behind this successful operation include the Regional Intelligence Unit 2 (RIU2), Counter Intelligence Division – Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (CID-IMEG), Luzon Field Unit – Anti-Kidnapping Group (LFU-AKG), Regional Mobile Force Battalion 2 (RMFB2), Provincial Intelligence Unit – Isabela Police Provincial Office (PIU IPPO), Provincial Intelligence Unit – Cagayan Police Provincial Office (PIU CPPO) and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA2).

Alias “Benjie” is currently under the custody of RPIOU-RID2 for documentation prior to his turn-over to the Regional Trial Court, Branch 1, Tuguegarao City.#