Authorities tag Army sarge as leader of gun-for-hire group

From the Daily Tribune (Jun 7): Authorities tag Army sarge as leader of gun-for-hire group

An Army sergeant is now under custody after being tagged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as the leader of a gun-for-hire group operating in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Army spokesman Col. Randolph Cabangbang said T/Sgt. Robert Yadao, 42, was placed in the custody of the Army Provost Marshall (APM) after he was tagged by the NBI as leader of a gun-for-hire group operating in the National Capital Region and other areas in Luzon.

Cabangbang said Col. Benedicto Jose, the APM, initially conducted an investigation on Yadao.

The NBI on Wednesday raided the house of Yadao in Payatas, Quezon City where operatives reportedly recovered 100 caliber .45 pistols. The Army sergeant, however, was nowhere in the place during the raid.

Follow-up operations at a safehouse on Commonwealth Avenue led to the arrest of three of Yadao’s alleged cohorts.

According to the NBI, authorities managed to track down the group with the help of one of their alleged targets, identified as Butch Cosme, whose photograph was reportedly recovered from the group’s safehouse.

“Yadao denies owning 100 caliber .45 pistols, he denies being a member of a gun-for-hire group and evading arrest. In fact, he is on-leave up to June 8 but decided to report to his superiors early when he was informed that his house was raided,” Cabangbang said.

The Army spokesman said Yadao will subsequently be turned over to the Army Custodial Management to ensure his availability for any investigation by other agencies.

“The APM will turn over Yadao to the Custodial Management Unit to ensure that he will be available for investigation by concerned agencies,” Cabangbang said.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/metro-section/item/15064-authorities-tag-army-sarge-as-leader-of-gun-for-hire-group