A LEADER of an organized crime group in Negros Occidental was arrested at Bangga Aning, Barangay Pahanocoy in Bacolod City on March 1.
Ritching Villanueva, 35, of Purok 2, Barangay Baclao, Cauayan town, was served an arrest warrant for attempted murder by joint operatives of Cauayan Municipal Police Station led by Chief Inspector Ruben Pajarito and personnel of Police Station 8 in the city.
Villanueva's arrest warrant was issued by Judge Rodney Magbanua of Regional Trial Court Branch 61 in Kabankalan City.
Pajarito said the suspect's arrest warrant came after his group was involved in a robbery incident in 2015.
Pajarito said three of the group's members were previously arrested but were able to post bail. One of them died in a shootout with the police, he added.
He is armed and dangerous, Pajarito said, adding that Villanueva's group was responsible in the series of robbery and akyat-bahay (house burglary) incidents in Sipalay City and the neighboring municipalities of Cauayan and Ilog.
"Based on intelligence reports, he has been hiding in Bacolod for the past eight months which prompted us to monitor his activities and plan his arrest," Pajarito said.
He added that the crime group has more than 10 members and that they received information that somebody is "holding" them in Bacolod.
Villanueva is facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 or Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act after police recovered from his possession a .45 caliber pistol, a silencer, two magazines, and nine live ammunition.
He is detained at the custodial facility of Cauayan Municipal Police Station.
