CABIAO, Nueva Ecija– Two suspected leaders of a notorious gun-for-hire and robbery hold-up gang were arrested by operatives from the provincial public safety company and the local police at a Comelec checkpoint in Barangay Sta, Ines here Friday.
Senior Supt. Crizaldo Nieves, provincial police director, identified the suspects as Carlito alias Lito/Ka Rey,41, and Romeo alias Romy/Omeng, 40, both surnamed Sarmiento and residents of Barangay Baritan, San Miguel, Bulacan.
Nieves said the suspects were on board a black Nissan Sentra (UHR 772) when they were flagged down by the troops for plain view inspection at about 11:30 a.m.
When the policemen peeped through the car windows, they saw one M-16 Armalite Rifle with a long magazine loaded with 20 live ammunition prompting lawmen to further search Romeo, Nieves said.
PPSC commander Supt. Ricardo Villanueva said that the search resulted to the confiscation of a hand grenade and a cal. 38 revolver. Carlito also yielded a cal. 38 revolver, he said.
A follow up investigation showed Carlito is ranked No. 16 in Nueva Ecija Most Wanted list with existing arrest warrants for two murder cases, carnapping and robbery.
Romeo, on the other hand, is said to be the leader of the so-called Sarmiento Group that operates in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan. Included in provincial police’s target list, the group is also involved in gun-for-hire, gunrunning, carnapping and robbery hold-up activities in Central Luzon, Isabela, Cavite and Pangasinan.
Charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and violation of Comelec Resolution N0. 9561-A were being prepared against the suspects for filing at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, Cabanatuan City, Nieves said.
