By Jennifer P. Rendon
Operatives of the PNP Regional Intelligence Division 6 (RID-6) ended the heyday of a suspected criminal gang leader in Iloilo province.
Jenel Chiva, leader of the Chiva Robbery and Gun-for-Hire Group, was killed in a shootout with police Friday morning in Calinog, Iloilo.
Chiva, who was among the top five most wanted persons in Iloilo province, instantly died after he allegedly traded shots with police operatives who were about to serve an arrest warrant against him at his house in Barangay Alibunan, a village around 8 kilometers from Calinog town proper.
RID-6 personnel and members of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6 (RFMB-6) and Calinog Police Station were trying to arrest Chiva for murder with the use of unlicensed firearm in Criminal Case No. 16-8300,
Police Lieutenant Colonel Mark Darroca, RID-6 deputy chief, said they cordoned Chiva’s place when they reached the area around 5 am Friday.
Since sunrise was already peeking through, dogs have been barking at them, which might have roused Chiva.
Darroca said the suspect immediately ran to the back of their house. Unbeknownst to him, police operatives already surrounded the area.
Chiva allegedly shot a policeman some 20 meters away.
Darroca said they had no choice but to retaliate.
Chiva died of gunshot wounds on his body.
The police he shot was hit twice but the two bullets all landed on his bullet-proof vest.
Chiva’s wife and children where unscathed.
Recovered from the scene were an M26 fragmentation grenade, an Intratec Miami FL 9mm MOD TEC- machine pistol, and a KG9 magazine with 5 caliber .9mm ammunitions.
FIFTH ATTEMPT
When he assumed the top RID post a few months back, Darroca said they planned of arresting wanted criminal gang members.
“Chiva was seemed to be doable,” he said.
Sometime in April, they received a report that Chiva was spotted in Calinog.
The report became consistent by May and June.
“Friday’s operation was our fifth attempt to have him arrested,” he said, citing a possible information leak from their ranks the reason why Chiva evaded arrest in their past four operations.
Despite being on the run, Chiva’s group, with around seven members, were still active in gun-for-here activities.
The warrant of arrest the police were supposed to serve was for a murder case issued pending with the RTC Branch 68 in Dumangas town.
Darroca said Chiva also has a pending arrest warrant for murder in Barotac Viejo and for violation of Republic Act 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004).
