Gang of ex-soldiers tagged in armored van heist

Police said yesterday a Southern Tagalog-based robbery gang made up of former military men was likely behind the armored van robbery at the Ortigas Center in Pasig City last Monday.

Members of the gang, mostly discharged soldiers, are now the subject of a massive manhunt by combined elements of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Eastern Police District (EPD) and the Pasig City police.

Pasig City police chief Senior Superintendent Raul Medina confirmed that one of the suspects has been identified from photos by witnesses during Monday’s heist.

"We have identified one of the suspects. We are now closing in on him," Medina told The Star.

EPD director Chief Superintendent Oscar Valenzuela, EPD director said his men are out on the field trying to crack the case.

"Hindi pa pang-diyaryo ang hawak naming ebidensiya," he said. "But I assure you my men are working round-the-clock to solve the case."

Valenzuela said the armored van company has yet to declare the exact amount lost to the robbers.

The money came from the I-Bank main office in Makati City and was intended for delivery to I-Remit, a remittance company with offices at the 20th floor of the Discovery Center on San Miguel Avenue.

Last Wednesday, Valenzuela relieved Chief Inspector Jaime Cadatal, precinct commander of PCP 19 based in Barangay San Antonio, pending an investigation on possible lapses by his men.

A source claimed that the gang was also behind bank robberies in Manila and Pampanga.

The leader of the gang was recently arrested and jailed, but his followers have successfully eluded police dragnets and continue to operate.