Police nab ‘remnants’ of Alvaro’s drug gang

Three armed persons believed to be remnants of drug lord Alvaro Alvaro were arrested in a hot pursuit by Lilo-an police after attempting to shoot a police in Lilo-an town Monday evening (CDN PHOTO/NORMAN MENDOZA).

CEBU CITY–Three armed persons believed to be remnants of the illegal drugs ring ran by drug lord Alvaro Alvaro were arrested in a hot pursuit in Mandaue City, northern Cebu on Monday night.

Jeppe Rosal, 29, of San Francisco town on Camotes Island; Arnel Mata, 26 and his 17-year-old brother, both from Danao City, were detained at the police station in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue pending filing of charges against them.

One suspect managed to escape when a team of policemen from Liloan town and Subangdaku police station cornered them at a bar in the Barangay Subangdaku on Monday night.

The police said the one who evaded arrest was RR Alvaro, said to be the nephew of Alvaro, who was now detained at the Cebu provincial jail, on drug charges.

Police investigation showed that PO1 Eden Pepito, who was assigned in a police station in Liloan town, Cebu, having his motorcycle fixed at a shop in Barangay Yati, Liloan when the suspects had a confrontation with a mechanic in the shop about a motorcycle that they brought there for repairs.

Pepito intervened to pacify and prevent the argument from escalating.

The policeman, however, noticed that the teenager was about to pull out a firearm and held the suspect.

Arnel and Rosal, who were also armed, demanded the release of the teenager. Sensing that his life was in danger, Pepito let go of the teenager.

When Pepito turned his back, the teenager pointed his gun at the policeman and pulled the trigger several times but the gun jammed.

The group then left.

The police from Liloan then received a call that the group was already in Mandaue, entering a night club along MC Briones Highway in Barangay Subangdaku.

The Liloan police coordinated with Subangdaku police station to arrest the suspects.

Recovered from the suspects were an AR-15 Rifle with 4 live ammunition, .357 revolver with 4 live bullets, .38 revolver with 4 live bullets, .45 caliber pistol with 6 live bullets and silencer, suspected shabu worth P179,714, and two motorcycles.