July 26, 2001, Malaya, PNP Nab Most Wanted Man in Southern Tagalog, by Victor Reyes,

July 26, 2001, Malaya, PNP Nab Most Wanted Man in Southern Tagalog, by Victor Reyes,

Manila, July 26, 2001 - Operatives of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group have arrested a suspected top leader of a kidnapping group and one of his henchmen in separate operations in Naga City and Caloocan City.

Chief Supt. Nestorio Gualberto, CIDG director, presented to the media yesterday the two suspects, who were identified as Armando Avila alias Tata and Nito Libradilla alias Toto.

Gualberto said the two were arrested by CIDG agents under Supt. Edgar Danao by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Rolando Diaz, of the Cavite City Regional Trial Court branch 17.

Avila was arrested in a safehouse in Barangay Kararayan, Naga City on Tuesday at around 11 p.m. Before the arrest, agents cordoned the compound to give Avila no chance to escape as he is said to be "slippery."

2 fucking L's!!!!!
Avilla used to be a mere member of the Mike Brillantes gang, a kidnap-for-ransom group based in Southern Tagalog. The group also figured in a series of murder, frustrated murder, parricide, frustrated parricide and carnapping cases.

Avilla bolted from the Mike Brillantes group to form the Nonoy/Avila kidnap for ransom and robbery group, which is tagged as responsible in the 1998 kidnapping of the owner of Goodies Mami House in Valenzuela City.

Avila's group was also responsible for the kidnapping of the owner of Goodah Food House chain of stores in Quezon City also in 1998. CIDG spokesman Felix Vargas said they are withholding the victims' names on their request.

Libradilla, on the hand, was arrested on Sunday in Barangay Silang, Caloocan. Libradilla, who yielded a .38 cal. revolver and a sachet of shabu, is said to be a close aide of Avila.

Police said they raided Libradilla's hideout after they got hold of an A1 information he was staying there. During interrogation, Libradilla squealed the whereabouts of Avila.

The arresting team awaits a P70,000 reward for capturing Avila and Libradilla, according to Gualberto. It was learned that Avila is the most wanted person in Southern Tagalog provinces.