CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 04 October) – A leader of a criminal gang in Laguna and two others were killed after they traded shots with a police assault team inside a posh subdivision here Thursday night.
Cagayan de Oro City police spokesperson Major Evan Viñas said Marvin Fajardo and two of his men died upon arrival at the J.R. Borja Memorial City Hospital where they were brought for treatment.
He said Fajardo was a notorious crime gang leader engaged in extortion, kidnapping, and robbery in Laguna and nearby areas, a high value target who came to this city to hide.
Several SUV vehicles and firearms were seized by the police at the house where Fajardo and his men were staying in Cagayan de Oro, at Block 12, Lot 25, Portico II Grand Europa Village in Barangay Lumbia, Viñas said.
“We are still sifting through the evidence to see how come they came to Cagayan de Oro to hide,” Viñas said.
In 2010, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operatives arrested Fajardo in Malvar town, Batangas for drug trafficking.
The case, however, did not prosper and Fajardo was set free.
Viñas said Fajardo arrived in Cagayan de Oro sometime in June this year and rented the townhouse at the upscale Grand Europa Village.
“We received information that Fajardo was hiding here sometime in July,” Viñas said.
A joint team of policemen and elements from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group from Laguna with an arrest warrant arrived Wednesday.
Viñas said the warrant of arrest for direct assault was issued on December 1, 2013 by Judge Michelle Manaig-Calumpong of the 4th Judicial Region MCTC Tanauan City in Batangas.
He said gunfire greeted the assault team composed of PNP Special Action Force as they broke into the house.
Viñas said the policemen had to fire back in return. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)