Salisi gang members nabbed in BoracayBY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
Beware of Salisi gang. Local police advised local and foreign tourists to be wary of the modus operandi of Salisi gang in the island of Boracay / PHOTO BY GEORGE CAWALING
BORACAY – Six members of the Salisi Gang operating in Boracay Island were neutralized by operatives of Boracay Special Tourist Protection Office (BSTPO) on Maundy Thursday morning.
Inspector Renante Matillano, chief of investigation and intelligence, said BSTPO operatives collared the suspects identified as Ryan Capuno, 26, resident of Lower Taguig, Bicutan City; Eddierick Bechayda, 28, of Kaliraya Street, Quezon City and Rachael Ann Recaña, 21; Juanito Villarico, 26 and Anita Esperanza Santiago, 22, all claimed to be residents of Makati City.
“The suspects had been placed under surveillance for three days. A police operative acted as their victim which led to the arrest of the suspects while they try to victimize him,” the police official said.
Matillano said plain clothes barangay tanods and BSTPO intelligence operatives apprehended the suspects at a popular resort near D’Mall D’Boracay in Barangay Balabag. A follow up operation of the police resulted to the arrest of their female companions at their boarding house located at Sitio Lugotan in Barangay Manoc-Manoc at around 3 a.m.
“The suspects had been placed under surveillance for three days. A police operative acted as their victim which led to the arrest of the suspects while they try to victimize him,” the police official said.
Matillano said plain clothes barangay tanods and BSTPO intelligence operatives apprehended the suspects at a popular resort near D’Mall D’Boracay in Barangay Balabag. A follow up operation of the police resulted to the arrest of their female companions at their boarding house located at Sitio Lugotan in Barangay Manoc-Manoc at around 3 a.m.
Another suspect Gener Manibo, 28, resident of Kawayanan Street, Paranaque City was arrested in separate police operation near the Caticlan jetty port but three alleged Salisi gang members eluded arrest and fled away towards the capital town of Kalibo.
Matillano said the police has intensified foot patrols and maximum visibility of force multipliers to secure tourists staying in the island from alleged members of Salisi gang and other criminals during the observance of Holy Week.
Matillano said the police has intensified foot patrols and maximum visibility of force multipliers to secure tourists staying in the island from alleged members of Salisi gang and other criminals during the observance of Holy Week.
“They (salisi gang members) distracted their victims by asking the tourist to take pictures of them and once their cohorts get a chance, they would steal or pick the valuables left in the table, mostly cell phones and cameras. The culprits normally befriend their target victims before they steal whatever valuables,” he added.
PO2 Christopher Mendoza of the Police Community Relations (PCR) section said Kabayan Action Group-Boracay, Kabalikat Civicom 961-Boracay, Philippine Guardian, Balabag, Yapak and Manoc-Manoc barangay tanods and the Municipal Auxiliary Police-Boracay also assisted the BSTPO in the arrest of the suspects.
Authorities recovered several mobile phones, perfumes, cameras, sunglasses, bags and cash of various denominations believed were stolen from their victims.
The suspects are now under the custody of the BSTPO. The police urged the victims to come to BSTPO to positively identify the suspects and for the filing of appropriate criminal charges against them.
Meanwhile, four Salisi gang members from Metro Manila underwent inquest proceedings before the Aklan Prosecutor’s Office after they were arrested by BSTPO last week.
PO2 Christopher Mendoza of the Police Community Relations (PCR) section said Kabayan Action Group-Boracay, Kabalikat Civicom 961-Boracay, Philippine Guardian, Balabag, Yapak and Manoc-Manoc barangay tanods and the Municipal Auxiliary Police-Boracay also assisted the BSTPO in the arrest of the suspects.
Authorities recovered several mobile phones, perfumes, cameras, sunglasses, bags and cash of various denominations believed were stolen from their victims.
The suspects are now under the custody of the BSTPO. The police urged the victims to come to BSTPO to positively identify the suspects and for the filing of appropriate criminal charges against them.
Meanwhile, four Salisi gang members from Metro Manila underwent inquest proceedings before the Aklan Prosecutor’s Office after they were arrested by BSTPO last week.
well they better be meaning if we have to keep the tourist coming we also have to be responsible for their safety and that includes making their personal things safe as well! i haven't been there lately but one concern should be the posting of lifeguards along the beach! even just for the peak season! damn it Boracay must be the only resort place in the whole world that does not have a regular lifeguard on duty 24/7! at least the Police have a very visible foot patrol round the clock!
ReplyDeletehi coty, yes, i agree with you, there should no MUST be a lifeguard on duty 24/7. perhaps what Boracay establishments and owners can do is to agree among themselves how to pay for say 3 to 5 life guards to be posted on a rotating basis. they would have to pay these guards at least the minimum amount of wages in the country. as it is, these establishment owners get their pockets full at the expense of tourists and yet not look into how to secure and protect them!
ReplyDeleteanother concern i have is the lack of first rate hospital in the island. several times, there are tourists who need immediate emergency care and yet, the local hospital is not even at par to the status of Boracay as 'first rate, top notch tourist destination'. hello! hello? please. do something about this. you people who lead Boracay like the officials and of course the locals too.
i must hasten to add that i love Boracay so much that everytime i go there, i am still mesmerized by its beauty - the beach and the locals. i have known a lot of them and i know that many of the locals also want only that which is best for everyone (i believe that that is really possible).
ReplyDeletei hope we (tourists, locals, officials, children, youth, media, church, academe, etc etc) can all help in keeping and saving Boracay's beauty (its beauty is not simply or only because of its awesome beach, it's beauty is its people, its children,its environment). NOW. before it's too late.