DAET, CAMARINES NORTE -- THE SURGE OF NEW INCIDENTS OF ARMED ROBBERIES and killings in this capital town and nearby localities has drawn deep concern particularly on the business sector, who had initially raised some P 50, 000 pesos in cash rewards for the immediate arrest of suspected armed-robbery gang members.
Earlier, Daet mayor Tito Sarion made an urgent appeal to the Cam. Norte police office and the local police to prevent further occurrence of the spate of robbery-holdups and murder of victims. with constituents here now fearing this new surge of crimes.
Most recent incidents reported were the shooting of small eatery owner in Daet's neighboring town, Labo; the victim was shot when he refused to give his cash-sales to the armed-robbers. Similarly, Edgardo Guieb, 41, was also shot dead by unidentified suspects who carted away some P 200,000 in cash during an armed robbery at the Happy Homes Subdivision here.
Last June 30, an armed robber with M-16 rifle Cal. 45 and Cal. 38 handguns disarmed the security guard and ransacked the Coca-Cola, Daet sales office in Barangay Pamorongan, just at the back of Daet's town hall.
While last July 1, armed robbers also took from the residence of Brgy. San Isidro Councilor Hermilildo Veloso some P 130,000 in cash and jewelry; robbers also broke into the DVS Dolor Marketing firm in Vinzons Ave. here and took cash, cellphones and other merchandise.
Bicol PNP director Chief Supt. Paterno Bangui had directed Cam. Norte police director Sr. Supt. Emmanuel Talento to step-up police action against suspected holdup gang operating in Cam. Norte, after a suspect, Arnold Badiao, a member of the "Buag holdup gang" was charged before the provincial prosecutor's office in Naga City.
Badiao, who was nabbed by joint elements of the Sipocot and Daet police MPS, was among the suspects in the armed-robbery at North Centro, Sipocot, Cam. Sur last May 18; other gang members identified as Dante Badiao and Walter Labrador, all of Basud, Cam. Norte, remained at large.
A police source said that other gang members associated with the "Buag gang" are still operating in the Camarines provinces. Supposed leader of the gang, Fernando Buag, 39, a resident of Labo town, had been arrested by Paracale police operatives in March this year. (SONNY SALES)