CIDG kills gun-for-hire boss, female assassin

Police have killed an alleged leader of a gun-for-hire syndicate and his suspected female assassin in Pangasinan as the Philippine National Police (PNP) intensified the campaign against motorcycle-riding criminals.

Senior Superintendent Edwin Quilates, head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Region 1 (CIDG-1), said the operation stemmed from a tip-off about the illegal activities of a group headed by Bernabe Abarratigue.

“They are engaged in gun-for-hire, robbery and hold-up and illegal drug activities operating in Pangasinan,” said Quilates.

He said the CIDG gathered information revealing two plans by Abarratigue’s group to kill a business owner in Barangay Poblacion, Mangatarem, Pangasinan using a motorcycle.

“The motorcycle the suspects used matched the description and surveillance photos held by the CIDG, hence, the authorities flagged down the said suspects,” said Quilates.

But instead of yielding, Abarratigue and his backrider only identified as alias “Joy” got off their motorcycle and allegedly opened fired at police operatives positioned in Barangay Dorongan Punta, Mangatarem, Pangasinan.

Police returned fire, resulting in the death of both suspects who were both armed with .45-caliber pistols.

After the President took the PNP out of the war on drugs, the PNP leadership has vowed to go after motorcycle riding-in-tandem criminals.