TACLOBAN CITY – Three men tagged by the police authorities here as members of a “salisi gang” operating I four cities of this region were arrested by Tacloban police operatives, as a result of the surveillance and investigation in response to complaints of business establishments, hospitals and other busy business centers of theft incidents, Col. Arnulfo Cruz, this city chief of police told Leyte Samar Daily Express yesterday.

Cruz identified the arrested suspect as Vicentito Nardo 34, and resident of barangay 13, Porok 7, Patag, Catbalogan, Samar; Teofelo Araneta 35, of Barangay Tobod Poblacion, Carmen, Agusan del Norte; and Roberto Balera, 33, of Nasipe, Talisay, Agusan del Norte.

The three were apprehended in a special operation of the Tacloban PNP yesterday morning at a lodging house in the downtown area here while they were having a gambling session.

Prior to their arrest, a computer center, Devine Word University Hospital and ten other business establishments reported to the PNP station that a series of theft incidents occurred; victimizing customers and the owners’ valuable things had suddenly disappear.

For example, at the computer center the three were identified trough its surveillance camera when the owner found out that a number of expensi0ve cellphones were stolen by the suspects.

“Sila ang mga itinuturo ng mga complainant, and fortunately our civilian informant spotting them at the lodging house which resulted to their immediate arrest,” Cruz said.

The said “salisi gang,” who has four members but one of them eluded arrest and is now a subject of a manhunt of police authorities.

The PNP officials earlier admitted that every Christmas season, the crime are in the region usually rise. Among these crimes are snatching, theft and highway robbery.

Some of the suspects come from other places in the region.

“Ang modus operandi nila… ay pumasok sa mga business center na busy tapos doon na sila gumagawa ng katarantaduhan,” Cruz said, referring to the suspects.

As Christmas is fast approaching, police authorities here cautioned all shoppers and the management of private establishments to very vigilant to evade being victimized by bad elements.

Nardo, Araneta and Balera are now detained at the Tacloban lock-up cell and charges are soon to be filed against them.

In another development, Cruz led a Thanksgiving Mass for 30 newly promoted commissioned and non-commissioned officers, the launching of Christmas decoration contest, the selection of the best PNP members of the year, and the groundbreaking for the Tacloban City Police Library.

Cruz said that 10 commissioned officer of Tacloban PNP were promoted from Senior Inspector to Chief Inspector. He identified them as now Chief Inspector Erwin Portillo, Daniel Eclipse, Romegio Serna, Analito Amoroto, Daniel Albento, Mariano Callera, Francisco Demillo, Jaime Corilla, Atilano Adona and Arnulfo Militante and Jennifer Sumpo.

Some 19 other police personnel were also promoted by one rank. They are now SPO4 Catalino Landia, SPO3 Solomon Aujero, SPO1 Cesar Navarette, SPO1 Emilliano Dadulla, SPO1 Alfredo Ayo, SPO1 Jose Esmolada, SPO1 Henry Apuya Jr., SPO1 Concas Castillo, SPO1 Janilo Espijo, SPO1 Restitutu Reglos, SPO4 Ferdinand Lim, PO3 Mario Centina, PO3 Antonio Salas, PO3 Jaquilene Monge, PO3 Melvin Cayubit, PO3 Ricardo Inot, Po3 Raul Delima and PO3 Norman Fedival.