Rob gang after leader’s P100-M loot

The armed men who snatched their gang leader from his police escorts in Quezon City Friday morning were after the more than P100-million loot reportedly kept by their leader, according to Manila City Jail warden Superintendent Emilio Culang.

Pedro Rodica, leader of the “Rodica Gang” whose members were former military and police officers who prey on money exchange shops, was previously snatched from his jail escort by several armed men in Ermita, Manila on Dec. 12, 2007 while on his way to attend a hearing at the Makati Regional Trial Court. Rodica was then an inmate at the Manila City Jail facing charges for robbery with homicide and serious physical injury. The gang had reportedly earned at least P100 million from their several capers, with Rodica keeping the loot.

Culang said he received information that following Rodica’s snatching in Ermita he was taken to Teresa, Rizal by his gangmates, where he was forced to reveal the whereabouts of their loot.

Rodica was able to escape from his gang but was shot in the process, Culang added. He then nursed his wound in Cavite until he was strong enough to travel to his birthplace in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

On April 15, police nabbed Rodica in his provincial residence. He was taken to the Quezon City police to face charges for robbing and killing a money exchange shop owner in Cubao in July 2006.

Rodica was being escorted to the Quezon City Jail by three policemen when he was again snatched by armed men along EDSA in Cubao.

Culang believes Rodica’s gang will not relent in their pursuit of their leader until they got hold of their P100-million loot.

“There is even a possibility that his gangmates might liquidate him in exchange for turning traitor on them,” Culang said.

The Manila police had been mainly responsible for the initial arrest in 2007 of Rodica and his right-hand man Juanito Boton, a former Marine officer. Boton reportedly was able to post bail.

Dragnet came too late

The police admitted that the delayed implementation of a dragnet against criminals have allowed robbery-homicide suspect Pedro Rodica and his cohorts to escape the other day.

Two weeks ago, the Metro Manila police announced the implementation of a systematic dragnet to ensure the arrest of criminals shortly after they commit crimes.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Geary Barias told The STAR the NCRPO and the five police district directors are still “in the process of coordination to be able to establish a well-coordinated dragnet operation.”

The dragnet operations would basically seal all possible routes of escape of criminals who had just committed a crime.

Quezon City Police District director Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula earlier said there are 50 entry and exit points in Quezon City alone, thus making it easy for criminals to escape.

PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. has mobilized the police intelligence community to launch a manhunt for Rodica and the eight men who took him from police custody.