Pubdate: 25 Jul 2004
Source: People's Journal (Philippines)
Copyright: 2004 People's Journal
Contact: http://www.journal.com.ph/contactus.asp
Website: http://www.journal.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3381
Author: Alfred Dalizon
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/shabu (Shabu)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/PDEA (Philippines Drug Enforcement 
Agency)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Pentagon+Gang (Pentagon Gang)

FAKE PDEA, MEDIA DOCUMENTS FOUND FROM SLAIN PENTAGON KIDNAPPERS

FAKE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and media documents and 
identification cards were found from three suspected members of the 
notorious Pentagon Gang who were slain in a gunfight with PDEA and police 
agents in General Santos City last Monday.

According to PDEA director Undersecretary Anselmo S. Avenido Jr., the fake 
PDEA documents and media IDs could indicate that the suspects were posing 
as either anti-narcotics agents or media personalities in conducting their 
illicit activities in Central Mindanao.

Also recovered from the suspects were two cal. .45 pistols, a fragmentation 
grenade, several bullets and magazines, about 20 grams of shabu, two fake 
PDEA documents from the PDEA national office in Quezon City, three fake 
PDEA National Office identification cards, two machine copies of PDEA 
National Office letterhead, and three media IDs bearing the suspects' names 
and pictures identifying them as staff members of the Free Nation News 
based in Davao City.

The suspects were identified as Ricardo/Ricky Legayada; Anice de la Cruz 
alias Tu, an alleged son-in-law of elusive Pentagon Gang leader Tahir 
Alonto; and Sumanudin Tiago, the alleged leader of the three.

In a report to Avenido, PDEA Regional Office 12 director Supt. Efren B. 
Alcuizar said they received intelligence reports that the three planned to 
kidnap Jin Sung Kim, a Korean national residing at Orlino Resident in 
Alabel, Sarangani in the guise of an anti-drug operation.

Members of the PDEA Region 12 and the General Santos City Police Office led 
by Supt. Willie M. Dangane  set up a checkpoint on the national highway in 
Barangay Baluan, General Santos City early afternoon Monday and spotted the 
suspects on board a black 1982 model Toyota Liftback approaching the 
blockade at 6:20 p.m.

Alcuizar said the suspects fired at them when they signaled them to 
surrender, prompting them to retaliate. A 10-minute gunbattle erupted 
between the two groups resulting in the killing of the three.

No casualty was reported on the side of the police.
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