The alleged leader of a local robbery group operating mostly in the province’s second district was arrested for illegal possession of firearms and an explosive in a raid at his home in Getafe town early on Wednesday.

Virgelio Torregosa, 37, alleged leader of the Torregosa Robbery Group was collared by the Getafe police which served a search warrant at his residence in Barangay Campao Oriental at 6 a.m., said Captain Benicer Tamboboy, chief of the Getafe Police Station.

Operatives found a hand grenade and unlicensed firearms including a .45 caliber pistol and .38 caliber revolver inside Torregosa’s house.

Tamboboy said that Torregosa’s apprehension is seen to make a dent on the robbery group’s operation and possibly cripple it but not totally stop it with his cohorts still at large.

“Naay posibilidad na mo-minus pero dili ta mag-expect na mohunong g’yud ni kay naa pay laing mga membro sa grupo na padayon natong gipangita,” he said, adding that members of Torregosa’s group have been traced to be from various towns outside Getafe.

Based on the police’s probe, the Torregosa Group has been targeting lending firm employees including Indian nationals.

Torregosa was allegedly behind the robbery of one Garry Auditor on Oct 26, 2019 in Campao, Getafe.

He also masterminded the highway robbery against Indian national Kamaldeep Singh in Barangay Salog, Getafe on July 9, 2019.

The police chief also tagged Torregosa and his group as suspects behind other robberies in Trinidad and Talibon.

“Manulis ni sila mag full-face helmet, bonnet ni sila unya mag motor,” he said.

Tamboboy meanwhile called on other robbery victims to come forward and file complaints against Torregosa.

Torregosa is now under the custody of the Getafe Police Station pending the filing of charges against him while authorities are moving to locate and apprehend members of his robbery group. (A. Doydora)