Organized Crime Groups

Filipino OCGs are engaged in, among others, drug trafficking, kidnapping-for-ransom (KFR), carnapping, robbery/hold-up, prostitution, illegal gambling and smuggling .   Here is a partial list of the most notorious crime groups here in the Philippines (no order):

1.  Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB Group)

 A breakaway urban hit squad of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army, was formed in the mid-1980s.   The Group is responsible for more than 100 murders, including the murder in 1989 of US Army Col. James Rowe in the Philippines. In March 1997, the group announced it had formed an alliance with another armed group, the Revolutionary Proletarian Army (RPA). In March 2000, the group claimed credit for a rifle grenade attack against the Department of Energy building in Manila and strafed Shell Oil offices in the central Philippines to protest rising oil prices. They are  approximately 500 members. The largest RPA/ABB groups are on the Philippine islands of Luzon, Negros, and the Visayas. (http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/abb.htm)

 

2.   Francisco Group

Formerly the Dragon or the Kuratong Baleleng Group, now led by Manuel Francisco, with 66 members armed with assorted type of high powered firearms and operates in the cities of Cagayan De Oro, Pagadian and Dipolog, and other neighboring cities and municipalities in the Mindanao (in southern Philippines), Cebu in Visayas (in Central Philippines), and Metro Manila in Luzon (in northern Philippines). The group is engaged in robbery/hold-up, carnapping, illegal drugs trafficking, and smuggling of rice and sugar. (http://www.pctc.gov.ph/updates/ocitp.htm)

 

3.  Pentagon Group

Headed by Tahir Alonto with around 168 armed members, engaged primarily in KFR and operates in Mindanao. This group is a creation of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). It was organized not only to generate funds for the latter through illegal means but also insulate the MILF from accusations that its members are involved in purely criminal acts. Its leader, Tahir Alonto is the former planning and operations office of the BIAF and the nephew of MILF’s Chairman Al Haj Murad. Relatedly, there are other members of the group who are listed as members of the MILF. (http://www.pctc.gov.ph/updates/ocitp.htm)

 

4. Rex “Wacky” Salud Group

With 30 members operating in Cebu, engaged in illegal gambling and the Vicviv Yu Group with 16 members operating in Central Visayas and also engaged in illegal gambling.  (http://www.pctc.gov.ph/updates/ocitp.htm)

 

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