A key leader of a private armed group engaged in gun-for-hire activities operating in Batangas province has been captured, Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said on Monday.
Geronimo Bantugon, an ‘armourer’ and one of the leaders of the Bantugon Group, was arrested for illegal possession of high-powered firearms and explosives by operatives of the Police Regional Office 4 (Calabarzon).
Albayalde said that the group gained notoriety for operating an illegal quarry, scrap metal trading and fuel pilferage in Bauan and Mabini towns under its former leader, Leonilo “Ka Nilo” Bantugon, who was gunned down in 2016 by a police team serving him an arrest warrant.
Leonilo’s brother, Leonardo, has since assumed the group’s leadership.
Their cousin Geronimo, to whom Leonardo has entrusted the group’s armaments, was reported to be slowly taking over the operations while Leonardo is in hiding in Mindoro, Albayalde said.
“[It is] very significant dahil [because] all part of our offensives against suspected guns-for-hire, not only guns-for-hire but also [because they are] involved in illegal drug trade, dahil ito halos lahat tinatrabaho na nila kung saan sila kikita [because they are working on all possible rackets that can be a source of income],” Albayalde said.