Carjack-slay suspects tagged in armory raid

The suspects in the killing of a 19-year-old nursing student in a carjacking incident in Parañaque City last week are part of an organized group that operates in southern Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

This was revealed by Superintendent Ronald Estilles, Parañaque police chief, as the local government officials and police presented two suspects in the killing of 19-year-old nursing student Richard Capili.

A third suspect was killed by Traffic Management Group-Region 4 officers in La Union last week.

The Pasay police said that the suspects were part of the group that forcibly took over 30 firearms from the Dasia Security Agency.

"These carjackers strike in southern Metro and several Southern Luzon provinces. After lying low, they sell some of the cars they stole. However, when a big operation is to take place, they would use the rest of the stolen cars," Estilles said.

Senior Inspector Glen Tigson, chief of the Parañaque Police Investigation Division, said they also received information that the suspects were remnants of the Kuratong Baleleng Gang.

"This group originated from Panaon, Misamis, where the roots of the Kuratong Baleleng can be traced," he said.

Police added that the suspects’ counsel was also the one who handled the Kuratong case.

Lawyer Jose Bawalan also reportedly defended the suspects in the rape-slay of Betty Sy in November 2003.

Roberto Pepito, 46, and Raymond Bongabong, 30, both of Las Piñas City were presented by Parañaque Mayor Florencio Bernabe to media yesterday.

Their cohort Estiven Liwanag, of Tondo Manila, was killed in a shootout with officers of the TMG-Region 4.

Bernabe likewise awarded the P200,000 reward money to the TMG operatives, led by Senior Superintendent Mike Saturnino.

Senior Police Officer 3 Danny Unico of the Pasay police, said a witness possibly identified Bongabong as one of the suspects in the Dasia armory heist on the evening of Dec. 31, 2005.

The group managed to take some 35 M-16 rifles, 15 shotguns and 15 bulletproof vests in the raid.

Last Feb. 12, the suspects shot dead Capili in an attempt to steal his black Toyota Revo along President’s Avenue in Parañaque.

Capili was inside the vehicle waiting for his sister at the LBC Landco Center Mall when the suspects struck.

Estilles said they are hunting two other suspects after Pepito and Bongabong admitted their roles in the carjacking.

Police said Solomon Bongabong and Nestor Paglinaan have gone into hiding in Taguig City.