CAMP GENERAL ALEJO S SANTOS, City of Malolos — AN alleged gun-for-hire group leader and his member were killed in an armed encounter with Bulacan police during the “Oplan Paglalansag Omega” (campaign against private armed groups and Loose Firearms) and Salikop (campaign against organized crime groups (OCGs) and criminal gangs) in Barangay Bagong Barrio, Pandi, Bulacan on Wednesday night.
Based from the report submitted to Police Col. Lawrence Cajipe, Provincial Director of Bulacan Police Provincial Office by Police Maj. Leandro Gutierrez, Chief of Bulacan Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the neutralized suspects were identified as Wilfredo Togonon alias “Willy”, alleged leader of a gun for hire gang and Michael Pegaro alias “Bungo” (involved in robbery hold up and gun for hire).
Detectives of Bulacan Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Bulacan Provincial field Unit (PFU) as lead unit, Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) and Pandi Municipal Police Station jointly conducted a buy bust operation on illegal firearms (RA 10591) that resulted in the neutralization of the said suspects.
It was learned that during the transaction, the suspects noticed that they were dealing with police operatives so they immediately run inside their house and fired their guns towards the policemen, an exchange of gun fight ensued that led to the neutralization of the two-armed suspects.
Bulacan SOCO team processed the crime scene and recovered several evidences such as cal. 45 colt pistol loaded with improvised magazine; a caliber. 38 revolver Armscor and one thousand five hundred pesos marked money used in the operations.
The recovered evidences are presently under custody of the Bulacan Crime Laboratory Office, while cadavers of the slain suspects were brought to Superior Funeral Homes, Bintog, Plaridel, Bulacan for autopsy examination.