Notorious rob gang member caught

Operatives of the Northern Police District intelligence unit arrested a suspected member of a notorious robbery group in an operation before midnight Tuesday in Malabon City.

Jomar Gamboa, 27, of Sitio Arkong Bato in Barangay Panghulo, was nabbed in a billiard hall in Barangay Hulong Duhat at around 11:30 p.m. He has with two standing warrants of arrest for robbery cases.

Superintendent Reynaldo Orante, NPD-District Police Intelligence Unit chief, said Gamboa, a member of the Akyat Bahay robbery gang, was also arrested in 2001 for robbery charges but he jumped bail. His gang operates in northern Metro Manila.

Orante said Gamboa and his gang were tagged in the May 2001 home robbery in Barangay Hulong Duhat. Victim Gimbo Leyes lost more than P10,000 in cash and household items.

In August 2002, Gamboa’s group struck, breaking into the home of Rowena Gutierrez in Barangay Baritan. The robbers carted away more than P20,000 worth of loot.

"Gamboa and his group has been suspects in other robberies in our area but only in these two incidents that we have enough evidence against them," Orante said.

At around 11 p.m., Tuesday, the DPIU received information that Gamboa was spotted in a billiard hall in Barangay Hulong Duhat.

A four-man team — composed of Senior Police Officer 4 Antonio Tenorio, Senior Police Officer 4 Pancho Labrador, Senior Police Officer 2 Henry Martin, and Senior Police Officer 2 Ernesto Mandanas — was immediately dispatched.