Two members of a notorious Partisan Armed Group (PAG) said to operate in Abra and nearby Cordilera provinces were arrested by a merged team of police operatives coming from the Abra Police Provincial Office and Pasig City Police Station on Sunday evening, November 18, in Barangay Dela Paz, Pasig City.

The members were identified as Prudencio Britanico, 44, and Robert Villastiqui, 39, who are both wanted for murder. The two suspects, according to the official website of the Philippine National Police, belong to Britanico Group, which is an active PAG that operates in Abra. It was also believed that the Britanico Group was responsible for at least seven shooting incidents in Abra in the past, most of which were politically motivated.

In a report of Cordillera Regional Director, CSupt Benjamin Magalong, the two suspects were said to be subjects of a warrant of arrest that was issued in Bangued, Abra. Up on Britanico’s head is a P250,000 reward for information that would lead to his arrest.

With their arrest, police authorities were able to recover five assorted vehicle plate numbers and an x9 machine pistol.

The said arrest prompted Philippine National Police Chief, Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome to order all PNP units to “step-up interdiction operations and legal offensive actions
against Partisan Armed Groups,” which may threaten the midterm elections in 2013.

Further according to the agency, an estimate of 5,000 loose firearms were acquired in its nationwide campaign to recover illegal ammunitions from criminal elements, PAGs, and unauthorized individuals in preparation for the said national and local elections.