THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested Monday one of the leaders of hired guns tagged responsible for the slaying of a barangay captain of Malasiqui town in December 2003.

Lawyer Dave Alunan, executive officer of the NBI in Dagupan City, identified the suspect as Rodel de Guzman, alias “Itiw”, and “Edwin”.

De Guzman was identified as co-leader of the gang called “Young Guns” believed responsible for a number of suspected contract killing perpetrated in Dagupan City and Pangasinan.

The gang’s co-leader Willie Mendoza, alias ‘Samal’, is now under detention at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in San Carlos City, also for the slaying of barangay captain Leonides Bulatao of Malasiqui.

Mendoza was a former policemen of Dagupan City who became a fugitive.
Four of their companions are now also behind bars after they were arrested one after another by NBI agent investigating the slaying of Bulatao.

They are Dexter Descallar; Menard Ferrrer, Rogelio Viray and Pangal de Guzman, a brother of Rodel.

Two of their companions, identified as Christian Sapiera and Bernardo Palisoc, alias ‘Nognog’ are still at-large but are under intensive manhunt by the NBI.
Alunan said de Guzman tried to resist when served Monday afternoon with the warrant of arrest issued by San Carlos City Regional Trial Court Judge Hermogenes Fernandez at the home of the suspect’s relative in sitio Cabuan, barangay Tamayo, San Carlos City.

He said the suspect is also facing another case of murder before the sala of RTC Judge Silverio Castillo in Dagupan City.No firearm was found by the NBI in the suspect’s possession.

The arrest warrant on de Guzman was served by NBI agents personally led by their provincial chief, lawyer Jose Doloiras.

The suspect had a bandage on his head which was reportedly injured in a scuffle with residents of barangay Tamayo, San Carlos City the day before.

In fact, as a result of this scuffle, concerned citizens of the community were able to identify the wanted man and promptly reported his presence in their community to the NBI.

Alunan also expects community support for the arrest of the two other companions of the wanted men who are still at large and are in hiding somewhere in the province.

All these suspects were tagged by the NBI to have links with three other hired guns arrested a few months ago in connection with the slaying of Dr. Cerdan Lopez of San Carlos City who was gunned down in his car in Calasiao, as he drove out of the Regency Hotel with his wife beside him.