RCBC rob suspects identified

MANILA, Philippines – Police have identified the remaining suspects in the killing of 10 people in the robbery at the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) branch in Cabuyao, Laguna on May 16.

CALABARZON police commander Chief Superintendent Ricardo Padilla said more new information could eventually lead to the arrest of the remaining suspects.

“We are also coordinating with other police units to help us locate the other suspects because of the possibility that the suspects had left Laguna just like Ricardo Gomolon,” he told The STAR.

Gomolon was arrested by police in Fort Bonifacio, Makati while in possession of a .38 caliber revolver.

He was later taken to Laguna, where a witness identified him as one of the armed men in the bank at the time of the robbery.

Gomolon, security guard Joel dela Cruz and Jesus Narvaez are in police custody after being charged with robbery and multiple murder before the Laguna Prosecutor’s Office.

Crime scene investigators said two .45 caliber pistols and a .38 caliber revolver were used to shoot the victims.

They also lifted the fingerprints of Dela Cruz from the bank vault, raising questions on why his fingerprints were on the vault when his job did not require him to touch the vault.

Police said three of the slain suspects in the RCBC robbery have derogatory records.

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., Laguna police provincial director, said Montano Tolentino, Vivencio Javier and Peping Magsino managed to either post bail or amicably settle their cases in court.

“They have no pending warrants so the police cannot make a move to jail them,” he said.

Rojas said criminal gangs led by Tolentino and Javier appeared to be well-financed and aided by respected lawyers.

Police are looking into reports that the slain suspects were able to construct beautiful houses and maintain respectable lifestyles for their families through the proceeds of their criminal activities, he added.

A copy of a confidential report obtained by The STAR listed Tolentino as a member of the Liquido-Hipolito gang engaged in gun-for-hire, hijacking, robbery-holdup, “paihi,” drug trafficking and car theft.

The report said Tolentino’s gang is the principal suspects in the killing of an American in Barangay Puting Lupa in Calamba City.

They were also behind the rash of robberies in the provinces of Batangas and Laguna, the report added.

Tolentino was charged twice for murder and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, the report said.

Tolentino was shot dead during an alleged encounter with Task Force RCBC in Barangay Putting Lupa in Calamba City last May 29. — With Non Alquitran