BY RUBY SILUBRICO
ILOILO City – One of the suspected leaders of the notorious Libuna-Lego robbery group was wounded after fighting back against the police serving an arrest warrant in Barangay Acao, Cabatuan, Iloilo yesterday.
Joan Lego, 41, of the same barangay, sustained gunshot wounds on his mouth and body. He was confined at the Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital.
His live-in partner, Maylin Araneta, 28, and also a subject of arrest, was detained at the Cabatuan police station.
According to Cabatuan police chief Captain Myles Dieron, they served five arrest warrants against Lego at the suspect’s house at 8:30 a.m. with the help of other operating units from Guimbal and Lambunao police stations, Provincial Special Operations Group, and 602nd and 603rd companies of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6.
“When he saw us, he pulled his gun out from his bag. We have no choice but shoot him,” Dieron said.
Police recovered from Lego and his partner one homemade 12-guage shotgun loaded with ammunition, a fragmentation grenade, and a black bag.
Dieron added that Lego, together with another suspected gang leader, Rowen Libuna, was wanted for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) and Republic Act 9516 (Illegal Possession of Explosives).
Lego also has a warrant of arrest with Joeffrey Vicente for robbery with Criminal Case No. 20-06-38 issued by Judge Gemalyn Faunillo-Tarol of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 76 in Janiuay, Iloilo dated August 11, 2020.
His other warrant of arrest, together with his live-in partner Araneta, was for theft issued by Judge Carmela Mae Mallada Tunguia of the 12th Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) in Cabatuan-Maasin, Iloilo dated August 8, 2018.
Lego was also the subject of a warrant of arrest with Rowen Punog Libuna for a robbery case issued by Judge Juana Judita Patriarca Panigbatan-Nafarrete of RTC, Branch 38, Iloilo City and for a carnapping case issued by Judge Daniel Antonio Gerardo Salvilla Amular of RTC, Branch 35, Iloilo City dated October 18, 2021.
Dieron said the Libuna-Lego robbery group was into robbery holdup and gun-for-hire activities not only in the province of Iloilo but also in other parts of Region 6.
Years of aggressive intelligence and police operations against the group had so far resulted to the arrest of its three members and death of three others.
Another suspected leader, Rowena Libuna, remains at large and subject of manhunt operations as she faces a string of criminal charges.
Meanwhile, Iloilo Police Provincial Office director, Police Colonel Adrian Acollador, said the arrest of Lego and his live-in partner has a big impact on the anti-crime campaign not only in Iloilo but also in neighboring areas.
“We cannot be complacent though, another leader is still at large. He can still run the group and continue their illegal activities,” he said.
However, the province’s top cop stated that he is confident that Libuna will be captured by authorities soon./PN
