Police identify Ativan Gang members; Gordon meets cop chiefs

The police have found leads that could result in the immediate arrest of members of the Ativan gang who victimized Chung Young Ho, Third Secretary of the South Korean Embassy in Manila last June 6. The body of Chung was found sprawled on a pavement in Marikina City the following day.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police identified the alleged Ativan Gang members as Robert Sambili, whose real name is Rocky Soriano; Gerardo Lazaro alias Rolly; Rodrigo Fabricante; Lourdes Crudo and a certain George. Two of their companions, including the common-law wife of Soriano, remain unidentified.

National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Edgar Aglipay said they are establishing the identities of the suspects that could easily lead to their arrests. "With the leads we have now, we hope to get the suspects soon," Aglipay told reporters in a press conference held at the Department of Tourism.

During the conference, Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon, Aglipay and the five police district directors in Metro Manila vowed to improve peace and order in the National Capital Region to encourage tourists to visit the country.

Southern Police District (SPD) director Senior Superintendent Jose Gutierrez said they have established the movements of Chung and the four suspects on that Tuesday night, the last time the victim was seen alive.

"Witnesses, who identified the suspects, include guest relations officers (GROs) of a KTV club in Manila, where the victim and the suspects had sung and drunk for several hours," Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez believes that the suspects have gone into hiding in the provinces.

At the same time, the SPD chief also disclosed that they are coordinating with the security force at the Ayala Center, where other Ativan gang members roam.

Gordon met with Aglipay and the five police district directors to discuss efforts to improve the drive against criminality, which affects the country’s image.

Gordon expressed apprehension that the recent crimes, particularly Chung’s killing, could give a bad impression of peace and order in the country.

Chung was apparently victimized by the notorious Ativan Gang, whose members drug their victims and rob them clean.

Reports said Chung was with his friend, Chun Han Young, when a well-dressed Filipino approached them. The man introduced himself as Robert and claimed to be an executive of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. The man invited them for a round of drinks.

Chun told probbers that Chung and Robert dropped him off at his house in Ortigas. About 15 minutes later, Chun spoke with the victim via his cellular phone and the victim told Chun that they were a few minutes away from the Ritz Tower Condominium, where Chung lived. It was the last time Chun heard from Chung.

Gordon asked Aglipay, Gutierrez, Senior Superintendent Vidal Querol of the Northern Police District, Senior Superintendent Rolando Sacramento of Eastern, Chief Superintendent Nicolas Pasinos of Western and Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Tor of Central to beef up police patrol in areas, where criminal elements "operate."

The tourism chief and Aglipay also met earlier in April to address the problems of tourists victimized by notorious robbery gangs. – Cecille Suerte Felipe and Christina Mendez