NBI nabs 4 in gun shop robbery-slay

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested four of the six members of the Gatilyo Gang tagged in killing a gunsmith during a gun shop robbery in Parañaque City last month.

NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco identified the suspects as Jose Armando Cachuela, 43, of Naic, Cavite; Benjamin Ibañez Jr., 25, of Imus, Cavite; Melvin Nabilgas, 34 of Calumpit, Bulacan; and Zaldy Gabao, 39, of Moonwalk, Parañaque City.

Two others, identified as Ariel Tibayan and Lito Dino remain at large.

Last July 25, the group robbed the Weapon System Corp. gun store and firing range located on Daang Batang street in Barangay Moonwalk. Gunsmith Rex Dorimon, 27, was killed during the heist.

Wycoco said Cachuela was the alleged leader of the gang while Gabao, who also worked at the Weapon System Corp. served as the tipster of the group.

Wycoco said all four suspects were charged with robbery with homicide before the Parañaque City Prosecutor’s Office, which recommended no bail.

The suspects, who were presented at the NBI main office in Manila yesterday, were arrested one after the other in a series of operations in Cavite.

Operatives of the NBI-National Capital Region, headed by executive officer Roland Argabioso, also recovered six guns which the suspects allegedly stole from the gun store. The weapons include a 9mm Bernadelli pistol, a European made handgun worth P50,000 to P60,000.

The suspects allegedly took at least 50 short and long firearms with an estimated cost of P1 million from the store.

In his report to Wycoco, NBI-NCR chief Edmundo Arugay said that on July 25, Cachuela and Ibañez arrived at the gun store and fired several rounds at the shooting range, where Dorimon, a gunsmith also served as range officer.

Later, Nabilgas, Tibayan and Dino arrived and also pretended to use the shooting range. Gabao later escorted the three to the comfort room, where he was tied up to mislead authorities into thinking he was also a victim.

At the firing range, Ibañez and Cachuela shot Dorimon while the latter was setting up the paper targets. The robbers then fled with the weapons.

The robbery was discovered some 36 hours later. It took place a day before President Arroyo delivered her State of the Nation Address when police were on alert in Quezon City and Manila.

About 20 days after the robbery, the NBI-NCR received information that Nabilgas, one of the suspects, was spotted in Imus, Cavite.

After his capture, Nabilgas spilled the beans on Gabao, Cachuela, Tibayan and Dino.

Later, NBI agents learned about Ibañez participation in the robbery and he was arrested at his house in Imus, Cavite.

During the presentation, Cachuela pointed to Ibañez as the brains behind the heist.