Cops closing in on gang behind van rob in Pasig

Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol confirmed yesterday that a Southern Tagalog-based robbery gang, composed of former soldiers, is behind the armored van robbery at the Ortigas commercial district in Pasig City last week.

Querol’s theory was bolstered by the discovery of a toll receipt in the get-away vehicle of the suspects, which was found abandoned hours after the heist at nearby Julia Vargas Ave.

"We recovered a toll receipt showing that the suspects used the South Superhighway on the day they staged the robbery," Querol told The STAR.

Querol said he was assured by Senior Superintendent Raul Medina, Pasig City police chief that at least one of the six suspects had already been identified and that his men are now closing in on him. The Metro police chief said men of Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., intelligence chief of the National Capital Regional Police Office are helping the Pasig City police and the Eastern Police District in building up the cases against the armored van robbery suspects.

The armored van had just parked in front of the Discovery Center along San Miguel Ave. at about 10:10 a.m. Monday when the robbers fired at different directions, wounding four people. They then grabbed a duffel bag containing cash intended to be delivered at the I-Remit, a remittance office based at the 20th floor of the building, and escaped on board a blue Mitsubishi Adventure with license plate XEZ 668. The vehicle was recovered later in front of the Pier 1 Bar and Grill restaurant along Julia Vargas Ave., where the suspects left it after boarding a waiting Toyota Revo.

Aside from the toll receipt, also recovered inside the get-away vehicle were an improvised shotgun, an M16 Armalite rifle, a Carbine rifle, rubber gloves, cap, towel, energy drinks, four bags and mineral water.

Querol said an empty mineral water containing urine and cigarette butts scattered on the vehicle’s floor showed that the suspects had put the armored van under surveillance before they struck.

EPD director Chief Superinendent Oscar Valenzuela said the robbery was over in 25 seconds. "They are professionals and are not first-timers on the job," said Valenzuela.

When asked whether the NCRPO are monitoring a pattern in the armored van robbery and the kidnapping of 11-year-old boy Ryan Yu, Querol answered in the negative.

The STAR noted that the suspects timed their robbery during the 32nd anniversary celebration of the EPD while Yu was kidnapped and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza was celebrating his 64th birthday.

"Maybe it’s just a coincidence," said Querol noting that they are not seeing a pattern in the twin high-profile crimes. But Querol admitted that in the next police anniversary and other important occassions, the NCRPO would be put on a higher state of alertness to prevent criminals from taking advantage of the situation.