6 charged in Caloocan bank heist

Six suspects in the robbery of a small bank last week in Caloocan City, including two arrested last Friday, have been charged before the city prosecutor’s office even as a manhunt for the remaining four suspects, including a female cohort, continues, authorities said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Geronimo Reside, Caloocan police chief, said arrested suspects Nathaniel Barbosa alias Jonel Ramos, 42, a native of Mobo, Masbate and resident of Maypajo, Caloocan City and Richie Neil Anghag, 28, a native of Imus, Cavite and resident of Pandacan, Manila were inquested for robbery- holdup before Caloocan Assisting City Prosecutor Ferdinand Valbuena.

Their missing cohorts were also charged in absentia with Valbuena recommending a bail bond of P100,000 for each of the suspects.

Earlier, a bail bond for P80,000 was recommended by the prosecutor’s office against Barbosa for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

In a consolidated special report submitted to Northern Police District (NPD) director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil, Reside also strongly recommended appropriate awards and commendation to all personnel who directly participated in the early resolution of the case.

SPO4 Pablo Temena Jr., officer-on-case, said that contrary to initial reports, there were now six suspects, instead of the four previously reported. Barbosa and Anghag were the first to fall.

Temena said follow-up operatives collared Barbosa at 4:30 p.m. on June 7 near his house while on board a Honda XRM motorcycle. Also found in his possession was an unlicensed caliber .45 pistol loaded with six rounds of ammo. Anghag’s fall soon followed.

Available police records showed Barbosa and his cohorts in its rogues’ gallery. The group was then identified as the "Itang Group" when first busted in Malabon in 1997 after staging a robbery at the Malabon Fishport.

The heist resulted in the death of a police officer and the loss of an undetermined amount of cash.

Records from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) also revealed that the same group was responsible for the heist on the Premiere Bank in Gulod, Novaliches, Quezon City only three months ago. A postal ID belonging to Barbosa fell from his pocket during this robbery.

Temena said that after his arrest, Barbosa was put in a police lineup and was positively identified by witnesses in the Caloocan bank rob. During interrogation, Barbosa identified his cohorts as "Neil," "Rolex," "Dodong," and "Alex," the alleged gang leader.

Records seized from her abandoned rented house showed their female cohort, identified as Marisil Jabian, 25, was a college dropout at the Mindanao State University (MSU) and a live-in partner of a gang member.

Barbosa claimed Jabian was his girlfriend, who also has possession of his part of the loot.

He also said Jabian was the same unidentified woman who escaped from a checkpoint set up in February 2006, leaving behind her companion Jonathan Hizon, who was shot dead in an ensuing shootout.