Local Crime Gang Boss Dies in Shootout

PILI, CAMARINES SUR (18 October) - A LOCAL GANG LEADER known as "Capt. Decon," who heads a crime gang called " Mission X Death Squad" or " Mission XDS Bitag," died in a shoot-out with composite units of the police and army intelligence battalion in the abandoned Subadan Resort at Zone 1, Barangay Binanuanan in this capital town.

PNP Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Rodolfo Llorca disclosed on Monday (Oct.19) that after the shoot-out that killed the gang leader, Jasper John Eugenio Y. Pistano, 44, alias "Capt. Decon" last October 17, he had directed Pili Police Chief Insp. Virgilio O. Olalia to apprehend remaining gang members, reportedly about 8 to 10 persons.

The "Mission X Death Squad gang" had reportedly operated for six months in this capital town of Cam. Sur doing extortion and murder.

According to a local source here, Eugenio's crime activities is primarily extortion in which his last victim was allegedly the family of the late LGU employee Joseph Bellen, from whom he had demanded the amount of P 10,000.

Bellen was among three Pili LGU employees who were shot at close range by a lone gunman at a local karaoke bar two days before the New Year in 2008.

An official police report here revealed that Eugenio's safe-house inside the compound of the Subadan resort was tipped-off by one of his recruits, a certain Joel Cristy, who led the police-military raiding team into the resort.

Cristy also informed the police that another gang member was buried in the resort compound, after Eugenio had killed him over a misunderstanding last October 10.

Police dug the decomposing body of Jonathan Bino, a resident of Binanuaanan Norte, Pili, who was supposedly an assistant of Eugenio in his crime activities.

Cristy also revealed that "door to door" motorcycle driver Rogelio Sapno Jr., 26, a resident of Barangay Sagrada, was also killed by Eugenio and Bino after the suspects were seen by the victim dealing with local cattle rustlers.

The Pili MPS also reported that a teenage girl in the company of Eugenio was also nabbed by the raiding team at the resort. The girl identified as Emily Talagtag Y. Platilla, 18, also of Barangay Binanuaanan Norte, admitted to be the secretary of the gang.

Recovered from her were documents of financial reports and activities of the criminal group; the police also recovered a Cal. 45 pistol with defaced serial number and an empty magazine, believed to be used by Eugenio during the brief fire-fight with the police. (SONNY SALES)