At least three men were killed while seven others were arrested in simultaneous operations against alleged criminal groups operating in three southern towns in Cebu early Saturday morning.
One of the fatalities was identified as Jojo Ganolon who was killed during a raid in his house in Barangay Nalhub, a mountain village located about 30 kilometers from the town proper of Dalaguete.
Senior Superintendent Noel Gillamac, Cebu provincial police director, told the Inquirer that Genolon’s companion identified as Jelon Mercado was also killed during the raid.
The other fatality, who was only identified as Lorenzo Colonel, was killed in a separate raid in Barangay Nug-as in Alcoy town, he added.
Gillamac said at least seven others were arrested in the separate raids in the towns of Dalaguete, Alcoy and Boljoon on alleged criminal groups involved in illegal drugs, robbery, rape, killings and cattle rustling in the mountain villages.
He said among those arrested were the husband of a barangay captain and a barangay councilor who were providing protection to the criminal groups.
The operations stemmed from the reports received by the Cebu Provincial Police Office and the Office of the Governor about criminal elements operating in the mountain villages and victimizing farmers who were too scared to fight back and report the crimes to the police.
“Some of the suspects were used by politicians in harassing the voters during the elections,” he said.
Gillamac said they applied and were granted 11 search warrants to look for firearms and drugs in the three houses in Barangay Nalhub and Jolomaynon in Dalaguete, Nug-as in Alcoy and in Bolojoon.
(Originally uploaded on Inquirer.net)