THREE former policemen, including a commissioned officer, were arrested by police operatives for murder and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition in separate operations in Pangasinan and Rizal.
The suspects were led by dismissed Lt. Col. Wilson Magpali, who is said to be the leader of the Magpali gun-for-hire syndicate operating in the Ilocos region.
PNP Chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said Magpali was nabbed yesterday by operatives of the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) in Barangay Legaspi in Tayug town, Pangasinan.
Azurin said Magpali was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by La Union Judge Nyerson Dexter Tito Tualla for murder.
Magpali yielded a cal. 9 mm pistol with PNP markings and three magazines with ammunition.
“This is yet another significant development in the PNP’s massive tracker operations against fugitive criminals,” said Azurin, who assumed command as PNP chief last Wednesday.
“As we are making great strides in weeding out police ‘scalawags’ in the organization, let us remain steadfast in hunting down notorious criminals with outstanding warrants as we boost the government’s campaign for criminal justice,” added Azurin.
Also nabbed were former M/Sgt. Sergeant Armando Arenas Junio Jr. and retired patrolman Ephraim Ferrer Jr.
Junio was nabbed last Tuesday in Barangay Tambac in Bayambang, Pangasinan by IMEG personnel and Pangasinan police by virtue of a search warrant for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Junio yielded a cal. 45 pistol, ammunition and a magazine assembly.
Police said Junio indiscriminately fired his gun whenever he was under the influence of liquor and had been introducing himself as a policeman.
Ferrer was nabbed in Barangay Sta. Ana in Taytay, Rizal last Thursday by virtue of a search warrant for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
IMEG and Taytay policemen seized from Ferrer’s possession an Armscor pistol cal. 40, magazines and assorted ammunition.
In a statement, IMEG said Ferrer “is responsible for the proliferation of illegal drugs (shabu) and protector of drug personalities” in Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City and C6 in Taytay, Rizal. It added that Ferrer is also involved in carnapping and gun-running.
“We are fully committed to leading the PNP’s internal cleansing program to purge our ranks and identify rouge PNP members whether they are active, retired, or dismissed from the service,” said IMEG chief Brig. Gen. Samuel Nacion.
