CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – Police on Tuesday gunned down a fugitive considered the Eastern Visayas’ most wanted person during raid at Barangay San Vicente, Tarlac City, authorities here said.
Genesis Oquendo, alias “Etin”, of Calbayog City and alleged leader of Oquendo Criminal Group operating in Eastern Visayas and Metro Manila, met his end at his hideout located at 2nd Street, Fairlane Subdivision.
Chief Supt. Amador Corpus, Regional Director at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Central Luzon Office, told journalists that four other members of Oquendo’s gang were arrested: William Remon, 53, of Bgy. Paulog, Ligao, Albay; Gerome Vasquez, 43, a security guard and resident of Bgy. Banao, Guinobatan, Albay; Henry Palmones, 48, of Guinobatan, Albay and Victor Vasquez, 40, of Bgy. Banao, Guinobatan, Albay.
Oquendo’s group, according to police authorities, operates as a gun-for-hire gang operating around Region 8, the Bicol Region and the National Capital Region (NCR) including the assassination of a Bureau of Internal Revenue executive recently in Makati City.
Senior Supt. Nick Torre, director of the Eastern Samar Provincial Police Office, said Oquendo’s group had been placed under surveillance by Samar police operatives following intelligence reports indicating possible upcoming hits to be carried out in Central Luzon, “specifically Tarlac City.”
Police sources added that Oquendo used to work as the civilian security aide of a prominent politician in Eastern Visayas.
Corpus said joint operatives of the Tarlac City Police and Intelligence Branch and Samar Provincial Police Office proceeded to Zaraga Apartment at 2nd St. to serve a warrant of arrest for three counts of murder issued by Judge Ernesto L. Peñaflor of Calbayog City Regional Trial Court.
Sensing the presence of lawmen, Corpus said, Oquendo opened fire toward the approaching lawmen, prompting the police team to return fire, instantly killing the suspect. The four others surrendered without a fight with their firearms.
Seized from their possession were handguns including two pieces of caliber 45 pistols, calibre 38 revolver and ammunition for different kinds of firearms.
Corpus said the four arrested suspects are being processed at the Tarlac City Police Office for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
