FIVE PDEA AGENTS NABBED

Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo T. Reyes, also chief of the
National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTAF), announced yesterday the
arrest of five agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and
a personnel of the Bureau of Fire for their alleged involvement in
kidnapping, extortion and robbery activities.

In a press conference at the NAKTAF Headquaters at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon
City, Reyes identified the arrested suspects as Elmer Avancena, Jaime
Popioco, Eric Nazareno, Gil Grefaldeo and Nolasco Taytay, all agents of the
PDEA.

Also arrested was Generoso Jaymalin, a personnel of the Bureau of Fire.

Reyes said that manhunt operations against the seventh suspect, Tony
Jabalo, have been intensified after he was tagged by police authorities as
the leader of the gang.

Deputy Director Edgar Aglipay, chief of the Anti-Drugs Special Operations
Task Force (AID-SOTF) who accompanied Reyes during the press conference,
vowed to enforce the full force of the law against erring members of the
police organization.